tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81841322024-03-12T23:15:48.475-04:00KINGDOM POWER on the street<center>Cataloguing the present day street revival and everyday miraculous experiences of a few "normal" Christians in the Atlanta area. We simply preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and healings miracles, signs and wonders follow. Jesus is King!</center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-16232662277148264392011-02-01T11:59:00.002-05:002011-02-01T12:05:42.140-05:00A Letter from Jim...<div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> 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0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">*For the last year, we have been going every week into a prison here in Georgia to minister to the men there. We've seen lost of miracles and quite a few lives changed. It's a good, long drive and regularly our services are canceled or cut short. It's a little bit inconvenient, but well worth the time and energy. The men there are SO hungry for the things of God! This is a letter we received last week, thanking us for our efforts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">-Ryan</span><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">**************************************</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">Brother Ryan,</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">I felt led by the Holy Spirit to write you and your staff a letter of exhortation. I want to thank you personally as well as David and David, Tamra, Elijah, Rachel Janice and all of the rest of the faithful members of your Prison Ministry team and to encourage you to continue your fight for Christ’s men here at Hays.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">As you know, we are all called to continue Jesus’ mission of reconciling the lost to the Father (Matt 28:19 ; II Cor 5:12-21). He has entrusted us, as believers, to carry on in His physical absence. Of course we also know that Christ is not gone, He lives and resides within each and every one of us. The realization of the fact that Christ lives in me has been life changing for me! You and your team have faithfully demonstrated for us here at Hays just what it means to live life in Kingdom power. To utilize God’s power for others and to truly understand that God is not just some distant entity, but rather a very present help here within us; all that we have to do is look within ourselves in order to find Him! How personal and refreshing!</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">Thank you so much for making me feel like part of your family. I understand that it can be difficult to drive up here week after week only to be turned away, but I would like to reassure you that your love and your efforts are not in vain. You are having a positive impact in many lives here. That is why the enemy works so hard to keep you out! You are your staff are successfully equipping us to live and fight for Jesus. That, my brother, is irreplaceable! Thanks to you we are chewing on the meat of God’s word and not merely nursing a bottle.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">Please continue your work in the Lord. We love you and we appreciate you! God bless.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">Love in Christ,</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">James C. Batsel</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">I Cor 9:16</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;">**************************************</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-2590952072155528162010-06-30T09:38:00.002-04:002010-06-30T09:49:17.558-04:00Haiti Trip Report - Part V<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJbOFkEJI/AAAAAAAAAFU/OYxDZCCvfhg/s1600/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJbOFkEJI/AAAAAAAAAFU/OYxDZCCvfhg/s320/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488561302867808402" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Towards the end of the night, one of our interpreters pulled me aside and brought me a young man for prayer. The guy standing in front of me was covered in tattoos, had about thirty piercings, with little bits of bone and other stuff stuck in them and he had several amulets hanging around his neck. He looked up at me with some seriously crazy eyes! I could tell by the nature of his trinkets that he was a Voodoo priest. I agreed to pray for him and laid my hands on his head. I called down the fire of God on him and he just stared me straight in the face and smiled. After a moment or two, I grabbed a handful of the amulets hanging around his neck and said, “You are going to have to get rid of these!” When I said that, he let out a nutty laugh and then turned and RAN AWAY! Not walked, not trotted, RAN! My interpreter just shrugged as if to say “What can you do?”<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first night of the crusade was awesome. We came back to the rented house where we were staying totally exhausted, but exhilarated by what Jesus had accomplished. We were eagerly anticipating the second night.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />RAINED OUT!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />When Pastor Paul picked us up for day two of the crusade, the weather was nasty. The closer we got to the crusade grounds, the worse the weather was with thunder, lightning and heavy rain. I placed a call back home to get our folks praying for the event. Our team stayed in the van praying for the weather to break while it poured on the crusade grounds. The weather didn’t’ let up at all, in fact, it got worse. In spite of the terrible weather, there were still a few hundred people out milling around the field. The crusade grounds backed up to a makeshift tent city and most of these people only had simple stick and sheet shelters to protect them from the sun. They would get just as wet inside the tent as they would in the field and had no real protection from the harsh weather. The band was under a tarp on stage and started to play. So instead of sit inside their tent and get wet, they began to worship as the band played and the singers sang.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJbzZ-JcI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WrWq3QbC8FY/s1600/DSC_1021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJbzZ-JcI/AAAAAAAAAFc/WrWq3QbC8FY/s320/DSC_1021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488561312885515714" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Some of the kids we worshiped with</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />The children came out in force and began worshiping with all their heart. Humbled by their commitment, we got out of the van and began to worship the Lord with them. We worshiped the Lord with all our hearts, singing and dancing with the people for 2-3 hours out in a lightning storm! Maybe 1,000 people were out there before all was said and done. Darkness settled in and the stage lights would not work due to the rain, so we worshiped in the dark, illuminated only by the lightning strikes. It was surreal. Thinking back about it though, this was one of the most memorable moments of our trip and the most powerful. Here were these folks who had absolutely nothing materially, yet they possessed everything of value, the Presence of God! We were ruined by their worship.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />After praying for all the sick in a very wet fire tunnel, we went home completely soaked and worn out.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />THERE ARE WITCHES IN THE MEETING!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />The third night was our last night at the crusade and our last night in Haiti. We prayed fervently that day for good weather and an explosion of God’s power. The meeting began like the others, with fervent worship and praise. We were down in the crowd worshiping with the people when a chill ran down the back of my neck and a tingling ran down my spine. Without even turning around I knew that a Voodoo priest was cursing us. I turned around and there he was, about 50 feet away and staring right at me! It was the same guy from the first night of the crusade. He had all the trinkets, earrings, but now he had a little PVC staff with fetishes hanging from it. He looked me right in the eyes and smiled with a wicked grin.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />He was there to make things interesting!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I turned and faced him and smiled right back as if to say, “Let’s do this!” I watched him and he began pacing around the crusade grounds. He pulled things out of a little bag on his neck and spread them on the ground. He spit, he urinated, and he made little circles with his feet and was doing all sorts of weird stuff. I scanned the crusade grounds and could spot a couple other Voodoo priests as well. They were pretty easy to spot. While everyone was worshiping, they would stand there motionless and every once in a while do weird stuff with the hands and face. I walked over to where our team was worshiping and said, “There are witches in the meeting, PRAY!” I walked up and stood on the stage with Pastor Paul to scan the crowd.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJcUuEiQI/AAAAAAAAAFk/OGuF7fzo02o/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJcUuEiQI/AAAAAAAAAFk/OGuF7fzo02o/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488561321828190466" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Healed of Rheumatoid Arthritis!</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />OPEN HEAVENS!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Worship took off! The presence of God rolled in like a cloud and people praised and worshiped with all of their heart. Pastor Paul broke the moment to introduce the team from our church and they all told testimonies of God’s power to heal, save and deliver. He then brought up a gentleman we had prayed for several days before. He testified that he had severe rheumatoid arthritis in his legs and knees and for the last 3 years had received cortisone shots EVERY DAY! He had been in severe pain for years and was totally healed when we prayed for him!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Come on Jesus!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />After telling testimonies, Pastor Paul took us through the huge crowd, praying for many people in his church that needed healing and deliverance. A group of about 15 women that were being terrorized in their sleep by demons received deliverance instantly. Wherever we went, people would reach out to touch our clothes and would grab our hands and put them on their bodies for prayer. I was getting totally messed up in the Holy Ghost and for a while totally forgot about the witches in the meeting. We were all done praying for the select folks from his church and made our way back to the stage. There was a guy standing next to the stage in a striped shirt and a big afro. When I walked by, he made all these weird hand gestures at me like he was doing kung-fu. In my Holy Ghost inebriated state I thought, “I need to whack him in the face with my hanky!” He just looked like he needed a good hanky whacking! So I stood there for a minute and hit him in the face with my hanky again and again. I walked away and thought nothing more of it.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJc-k0fcI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Mo95bkdIG8E/s1600/IMG_2810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJc-k0fcI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Mo95bkdIG8E/s320/IMG_2810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488561333063679426" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">The Presence of God in Worship!</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />THE REST OF THE STORY</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />The meeting was amazing. The presence of God rolled in during worship and you could feel the glory of God settle across the people. We encouraged folks to reach out and receive their healing and the life of God. We preached a very simple message of the Kingdom, brought many more people to the Lord and then prayed for the sick. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />It was glorious.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />But the best part was when we were back at the house for the night, sharing with one another all that Jesus did during the crusade. Pastor Paul very simply stated that the best part for him was the prominent witch doctor that came to the Lord that night. We stopped him and said, “Excuse me? What witch doctor?” He then told us of this evil witch doctor that was known throughout the region for killing and maiming many people through his voodoo. He was very powerful, feared and well known throughout the region. I asked him, “Well, who was he?” Thinking it was maybe my buddy with the PVC staff. He said, “Oh, you don’t know? I thought for sure you knew who it was!” I said, “I have no idea, who was it?!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Pastor Paul told me that when we had gone through the crowd and headed back up to the stage he looked down and saw me standing in front of this witch doctor. I was standing in front of him, hitting him in the face with my hanky! It was the guy I was popping with my hanky on the side of the stage! When Pastor Paul saw me hitting him in the face, he looked down and his hands were shaking. Knowing who this guy was, he feared for my life! But I had no clue! I just thought he was a weirdo that needed a smack in the face with a hanky! Ignorance is sometimes bliss you know… Whatever happened in that moment, I don’t know, but what I do know is that this evil, powerful witch doctor came forward at the altar all and gave his life to Jesus that night!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJdCLb6_I/AAAAAAAAAF0/XVLIU5bOJjc/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCtJdCLb6_I/AAAAAAAAAF0/XVLIU5bOJjc/s320/IMG_2828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488561334030953458" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jesus is King over Voodoo!</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-73910270966522621322010-06-24T07:07:00.005-04:002010-06-24T07:29:14.863-04:00Haiti Trip Report - Part IV<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-IovKsrI/AAAAAAAAAEk/mJuMk7Vv5-Q/s1600/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-IovKsrI/AAAAAAAAAEk/mJuMk7Vv5-Q/s320/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486297089162523314" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The Crusade was to begin at 5pm that day. Pastor Paul left before dawn to make preparations for the crusade that night. The problem was that each day in Haiti began at about 4:30am with the bleating of the goats and clucking of the chickens outside our window. Our original plan was to spend the days before the crusade in the tent villages, preaching the Gospel and praying for the sick. Pastor Paul didn’t feel that this was a wise plan and had some real concerns about our security in the tent cities, so we abandoned the plan. Now we would simply wait inside the compound for them to come and pick us up before the crusade.<br /><br /></span></span><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-lCEASLI/AAAAAAAAAFM/R-A-zSe9MgY/s1600/house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-lCEASLI/AAAAAAAAAFM/R-A-zSe9MgY/s320/house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486297576997144754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">George beating the heat!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />11 hours, in 100+ degree heat, with nothing to do. So we worshiped, we prayed, we ate, we napped, we talked and we STILL had 8 hours.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />YAY.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Needless to say, we were super excited when we got word that we would be picked up in 30 minutes. In the van on the way there, Pastor Paul gave me some instructions about the crusade, making sure that I would give an altar call and giving me a heads up as to the order of service. The band would worship for some time and the people would gather. When they had arrived and we had worshiped, we would preach the Gospel and lead people to Jesus. Afterward we would pray for the sick.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />All of them.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />WEATHER MIRACLE</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />On the 30 minute drive to the crusade grounds we saw the clouds and weather gathering for a wicked thunderstorm. Dark storm clouds were overhead and you could see lightning in the distance. We had come a long way and paid a lot of money to get rained out! I called our folks back in Atlanta and asked them to really pray for a weather breakthrough. We arrived at the grounds and there were a few hundred people milling around. It was obvious that they were having some serious problems with the sound system and they would periodically break out tarps to cover the sound equipment as a little rain would come and go. Honestly, it didn’t look good. The sky was pregnant and we were about to get dumped on.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />They began to worship with only a couple of the instruments working through the sound system, but the vocalists more than made up for the lack of instruments as they sang with all their heart. People began streaming in from all over the place, quickly filling the soccer field. But the longer they went on playing and worshiping, the more ominous the weather became. As we were worshiping I noticed that I was stressing about the weather and getting worried. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the Lord, not on the situation. As soon as I did, the Lord spoke to me and reminded me of a word Surprise Sithole had given us 6 months before. As a ministry, we were stepping into a place that the Lord had prepared in advance. It was all pre-arranged. An overwhelming sense of peace flooded over me as the Holy Spirit comforted me.<br /></span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-JSjSQyI/AAAAAAAAAEs/IZarW-GuZIc/s1600/DSC_0862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-JSjSQyI/AAAAAAAAAEs/IZarW-GuZIc/s320/DSC_0862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486297100386976546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Double Rainbow!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />When I opened my eyes and looked up, I saw a diamond shaped opening in the clouds and rain, RIGHT OVER the soccer field! Rain, clouds and weather surrounded us, but in the center, where we stood, the weather was clear! Right behind the stage was a huge double rainbow! The promise of God; it was all pre-arranged!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />THE TASK AT HAND</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />With the weather crisis averted, it was now time to get back to our task at hand; winning the lost and healing the sick! The worship went on and on. They probably worshiped for two hours. Our team jumped off the platform to worship with the people. We danced, we sang and we enjoyed Jesus. The presence of God in their worship was amazing. In total poverty, these folks completely lost themselves in worshiping the Lord. And while they worshiped, people from all over the neighboring villages and towns kept streaming in. When worship wrapped up about two hours into it, the soccer field was full. I looked and 180 degrees around us was filled with people!<br /><br /></span></span><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-KphfhuI/AAAAAAAAAE8/yYL1u-YwUew/s1600/crowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-KphfhuI/AAAAAAAAAE8/yYL1u-YwUew/s320/crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486297123733341922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Haitians Know how to Worship! </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />I introduced the team and then began preaching the very simple Gospel of the Kingdom. Through an interpreter, everything takes twice as long and it can take a minute to get into a rhythm, but already Pastor Paul and I had been preaching as a team for many hours, between the Pastor’s Conference and the church services we had done, so it flowed very easily. Many people asked me when I came back what it’s like to preach to a crowd of many thousands and my response is simple, “It’s the same as preaching to a handful of people in a home group.” When you serve God, he’s looking for obedience, not numbers. So the pay is the same, whether you’re helping one person over lunch or preaching to multitudes. This sets you free! You NEVER have to be intimidated with numbers!<br /></span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-Lnm2U2I/AAAAAAAAAFE/VdPRPm4Tm8c/s1600/kids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-Lnm2U2I/AAAAAAAAAFE/VdPRPm4Tm8c/s320/kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486297140398805858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Many kids came to the Lord.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />We told a few stories of what it looks like when the Kingdom comes to someone’s body, soul and spirit. As far as I could tell, the people were engaged in the testimonies and the message. We encouraged them to lay down their lives and pick up His! We called them to repent, to change the way they think, the Kingdom was at hand! We gave an altar call and many gave their lives to Jesus, including a large group of street kids hanging down at the foot of the stage. Many of these kids were as young as 4-5 years old, but they could understand their need of Jesus and the Kingdom. Many came to the Lord!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />FIRE TUNNEL, HAITI STYLE</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Now, that many had made Jesus their King and Lord, it was time to pray for the sick! Pastor Paul looked at me and said, “We are going to make a channel. Your team will stand on each side and the people will pass through.” I said, “Oh, a Fire Tunnel!” He just looked at me. I told him, “Never mind, got it!” So we jumped off the stage and with the help of many of his people we formed a “channel” as he would call it (we call them fire tunnels). Before we opened the line, people started reaching out and touching our clothing and putting our hands on them for healing. They were so hungry! Pastor Paul called all the sick and they lined up!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I can’t tell you how many people we prayed for, but it was definitely in the thousands. They started filing through the “channel” and we began to pray. It was total chaos! You read about the “press” in the Bible, when the people would “press” into Jesus and He would touch them or they would touch Him. That’s what it was like. MANY people were reaching out and touching me, manhandling me, mobbing me. No interpreters were needed, if they wanted us to know where it hurt, they simply put our hand on that area or pointed. Some folks would just stand there and look at you like “is that all?” I began to declare their freedom over them in their language, “U Liberte!” We would pray our guts out and then tell them, “You are Free”. This kept the line moving.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />After some time, I realized that praying for everyone would be impossible… in the natural. So I told them team over the din of the crowd to simply “get lost” in the Holy Ghost and out of our natural mind. Otherwise we would burn out and not be able to complete the mission. So we pressed into the Holy Ghost and received Grace for the mission! Katie was standing next to me and was gently hugging and kissing all the people on the head as they came through. She probably gave thousands of hugs and kisses!</span></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-J_WiKcI/AAAAAAAAAE0/86uWFMadQyo/s1600/DSC_0922.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TCM-J_WiKcI/AAAAAAAAAE0/86uWFMadQyo/s320/DSC_0922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486297112413088194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Mute Speak!</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Many asked me what miracles we saw and truthfully, in a situation like that, we don’t know! The one that stood out was a deaf/mute that came through the prayer line. He looked to be a young man in hid mid-late twenties. All he did was point to his tongue. It was shriveled and I found out later that he had never spoken. I didn’t know he was deaf. I motioned to him to stick out his tongue, which he did. I simply put my thumb on his tongue and said, “Be Loosed!” I then looked him dead in the eye and told him, “Say, Jeze Saywa! (Jesus is King)” He looked right at me and over the din of the crowd LOUDLY said “JEZE SAYWA! JEZE SAYWA! JEZE SAYWA!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />God loosed his tongue!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />To be concluded…</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-81887845394277807572010-06-18T09:02:00.002-04:002010-06-18T09:17:17.291-04:00Haiti Trip Report - Part III<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvnhesIsI/AAAAAAAAAD8/meqgUhVGNyw/s1600/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvnhesIsI/AAAAAAAAAD8/meqgUhVGNyw/s320/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484099696046383810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Just to give you a scope of the impact we were able to have with the pastor’s seminar, one of the 200+ pastors represented at the seminar pastors a church of 5,000, another 8,000. I met one pastor who has 5 large churches, 2 orphanages and a hospital in a remote area of Haiti. I’m not sure how many churches and people were represented on that Pastors seminar, but if they grasp the message of the Kingdom and their responsibility to equip their people in power, then Haiti will be rocked with the Gospel!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvoYotSYI/AAAAAAAAAEE/Ho8UCLJCH9c/s1600/DSC_0619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvoYotSYI/AAAAAAAAAEE/Ho8UCLJCH9c/s320/DSC_0619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484099710852352386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Teaching at the Pastor's Seminar</span></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">MONDAY</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The following day (Monday) we would finish our Pastors seminar and minister at an 8,000 member church later that afternoon, at least, that was the “plan”. In Haiti, everything planned was a suggestion, everything suggested was quickly forgotten.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We spoke again to the pastors out of Ephesians 4 and encouraged them that they were given to the Body of Christ to equip the SAINTS for the work of Ministry. The Saints were to do the work of ministry and the work of ministry was supernatural! This was revolutionary to them. I honestly don’t think they grasped the meat of the message until we compared their job as leaders to being a coach of a soccer team and the members of their congregation to players on the team! The coach has experience, the coach understands the fundamentals, but the team scores the goals! They had only heard of the one man show, God’s man of faith and power for the hour type thing, another unfortunate export from the church in the West.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We then showed them how Jesus equipped His disciples to do what He did in Luke 9-11 (Thanks Steve!). The disciples were sent out to do the stuff, did it and came back revealing their humanity and sinfulness. The Lord’s response? He sends out 70 others to do the stuff, make Satan fall like lightning and shake the nation. It wasn’t until the next Chapter in Luke 11 that they asked Jesus how to pray. The point? You have 82 people out there doing the works of ministry with little character and no prayer life. Their shortcomings in character weren’t truly revealed until they were used in ministry! The Lord’s emphasis was on setting others free, not perfecting the saints before they can be used of God. This isn’t to devalue personal holiness (by which no man will see the Lord!) or character, but rather to emphasize how the Lord trained His disciples.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">This totally blew them away. Bringing it back to the example of a soccer team and their coach I told them that the way to make a player improve was to put him in the game! After playing a bit, then bring him to the sidelines and correct the errors in his game, sending him back out, pruned and corrected to bear more fruit! You could tell. They got it. No longer were they the one man show. They were now commissioned and equipped to equip their churches to get out there in there communities and bring the Kingdom.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Look out devil!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvo-UgBCI/AAAAAAAAAEM/IbwQ6pCEenM/s1600/IMG_1829.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvo-UgBCI/AAAAAAAAAEM/IbwQ6pCEenM/s320/IMG_1829.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484099720968143906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A Lone Man Sitting in the Wreckage</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvpBE5IUI/AAAAAAAAAEU/Tyaen6ml1Tk/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvpBE5IUI/AAAAAAAAAEU/Tyaen6ml1Tk/s320/IMG_1815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484099721707987266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">More Devastation</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">DIVINE APPOINTMENT</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We were then whisked off to do a church service at an 8,000 member church. This church’s building was severely damaged during the quake and had been renting a large tent in the yard of a nearby church. Apparently the last couple of days before we had come, the power of God was falling in their meetings. The church they were renting the tent from did not like this and canceled the arrangement. They notified the pastor just before we arrived that they were no longer able to hold services in the tent. They even sent the police to make sure we didn’t meet there. So we had a service time, willing people, but no where to meet!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The pastor was apologetic, but it was out of his hands. He asked us if we would come and pray for a young lady that was living in his church. She was totally demon possessed and literally shaking with the power of the devil. Again, her possession and torment was the result of a witch doctor’s curse. I believe it was her father who was the Voodoo priest. He had cursed her and for several days she had been totally possessed and unable to sleep. She believed in the Lord but Pastor Paul said she wasn’t really walking with the Lord. We can pretend and put up pretenses with our neighbors and friends/family, but the demons know who walks with God and who doesn’t.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Pastor’s request was simple “Come and cast out the demon.”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">You bet.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We had her call on the name of the Lord and ask Jesus to deliver her. We bound the devil and began to pray. We rebuked the demon and commanded it to come out of her. After several minutes of absolutely nothing happening, the Holy Spirit reminded me of this passage:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn…” Isaiah 61:1-2</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvpv5nc0I/AAAAAAAAAEc/A1br63O_tag/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBtvpv5nc0I/AAAAAAAAAEc/A1br63O_tag/s320/IMG_1534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484099734277157698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ministering Freedom to the Bound</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Word says that we are to proclaim freedom for those who are bound. As far as I was concerned, our job was done. We had prayed, we had bound and we had cast out… it was done! So I asked the translator standing there “How do you say, you are free?” he replied, “U Liberte”. I grabbed her chin, made her look me in the eyes and simply said, “U Liberte!” A huge grin broke across her face and she began to weep. She looked to Heaven and began to thank the Lord. She started jumping up and down. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill her and she now began to tremble violently under the presence of God! She could no longer stand under the weight of God’s presence, so we set her gently on a sofa behind her. She was happy, she was joyful and she was free!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pastor Paul looked at me and said, “This is why we came tonight. Who knows what impact this young lady will have now that she is delivered?”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The next day was the start of the crusade. Thousands were expected. This was going to be awesome!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To be continued…</span><br /><br /></span></span> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-81850140447207383172010-06-14T10:06:00.005-04:002010-06-14T10:22:07.469-04:00Haiti Trip Report - Part II<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY4FIDh3zI/AAAAAAAAADE/1vae7ugiSy8/s1600/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY4FIDh3zI/AAAAAAAAADE/1vae7ugiSy8/s320/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482631257082945330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We arrived in Haiti safely with no drama. We quickly got settled in the house that Pastor Paul had rented for our stay. Basically it was like camping indoors. No running water, spotty generator power and HOT, but by Haiti standards, very nice. We had quite a few folks from Pastor Paul’s church working night and day to cook our food, cleanup after us and make sure we were cared for. Their hospitality was wonderful.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5eaUl02I/AAAAAAAAADM/pYkbbVaRiAw/s1600/DSC_0610.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5eaUl02I/AAAAAAAAADM/pYkbbVaRiAw/s320/DSC_0610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482632790994703202" border="0" /></a>Elijah Preaching @ The Pastor's Seminar<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">PASTORS SEMINAR</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Our first day was to be spent doing a pastor’s seminar to over 200 pastors that had come from all over the island. Some traveled 2-3 days to come 300 miles and many had been traveling all day to arrive in time for the seminar to begin. We all crowded into a very nice, but VERY hot and humid home we had to rent for the seminar. The hunger for God was palpable. We were able to share some testimonies of miracles we have seen recently but more importantly how they as pastors and leaders could walk in the power of the Gospel and equip their people to do the same!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We shared the basic message of the Gospel of the Kingdom. That God’s Kingdom was available, it was at hand and it was on the earth! We also shared the commission from the Lord to pray that “His Kingdom come, His will be done, on EARTH as it is in Heaven!” What is sad is that many of these men and women pastor large congregations, they have served the Lord faithfully for many years, but they had never heard the Gospel of the Kingdom! It’s amazing to me that the church has missed the most central message in the Gospel, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We called them to change the way they think. We told story after story of the Kingdom coming with power, through everyday believers, through businessmen, mommies and children. You could tell that this was a foreign concept. They were eager to hear more and were hanging on every word, but based on the expressions on their face, you could also tell it was a challenging word to hear. The time came to demonstrate the word and to release the Kingdom. We released the pastors to pray for one another and they froze. You could tell they were thinking, “but this stuff can only be done by the missionaries” type stuff. It took a minute, but eventually we had them praying for each other, releasing the Kingdom on one another. Miracles began popping in the room and several folks came up testifying of what God had done in their bodies.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">One Pastor there caught my eye and the Lord gave me a prophetic word for him. It was about him being like David in the Bible and having the heart of a worshipper and a warrior. I told him that his church carried the same heart, that in the presence of God in worship they were changed in giant slayers! Turns out this unassuming man pastured a church of 5,000 people in the heart of Port-Au-Prince!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5fkr65JI/AAAAAAAAADU/cZCf8dPK7Nk/s1600/DSC_0177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5fkr65JI/AAAAAAAAADU/cZCf8dPK7Nk/s320/DSC_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482632810956776594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Preaching on the Streets of Port-au-Prince</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">After the seminar that afternoon we were able to spend a couple of hours walking the street praying for the sick and prophesying over many people. Pastor Paul introduced us to several people that had been cursed by Voodoo priests and as a result had severe, crippling illnesses and diseases affecting them. It’s hard for a rational western mind to wrap their minds around what the locals deal with on a near daily basis. When the Voodoo priest asks you to do something, you either do it or they may curse you. When the Voodoo priests curse you, if you are not a Christian, they can kill you with their magic or cause great physical suffering with unexplainable diseases, skin rashes and paralysis.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5f_OfgEI/AAAAAAAAADc/w-RjWAugZew/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5f_OfgEI/AAAAAAAAADc/w-RjWAugZew/s320/DSC_0199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482632818081103938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Washing the feet of a man lame for 12 years</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">One of the guys we met was lame for the last 12 years as the result of a Voodoo curse. One young lady had a Voodoo priest ask her to sleep with him. When she refused he cursed her. The next day she developed an unexplainable, burning rash on her skin. When she went to the doctor they tested her blood and ran cultures, etc. The verdict? They found nothing wrong with her! Yet she can barely walk due to the illness. We prayed that the work of the enemy in their life would be destroyed and moved on.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">After the street ministry, we then headed right out to a local church, where we preached, prayed and released the Kingdom once again.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">A good start, but just the beginning.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY6Xmziw_I/AAAAAAAAAD0/NguCx8lxXW4/s1600/IMG_0819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY6Xmziw_I/AAAAAAAAAD0/NguCx8lxXW4/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482633773598295026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ministering @ Pastor Paul's Sunday Service</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">SUNDAY SERVICES</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The next day was Sunday and we would be ministering at one of Pastor Paul’s 5 church services. Since the quake, the church has exploded. They lost their main meeting facility in the quake and have had to divide the church into 5 different cell groups to accommodate the crowds. They are eager to meet together all in one place. Pray for them that funding would come in supernaturally to allow the construction to be completed on their main sanctuary and classrooms. We would participate in their first service.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">What grabbed us all that day was the worship! Pastor Paul’s church knew how to bring Heaven down in the worship! The presence and power of God was awesome. I can honestly say that their worship was some of the best I’ve ever experienced. Here, many of these folks have lost everything, family, friends, houses, but worshipped God out of their total lack. Here we were meeting in a rented home, without a grand cathedral to worship in, but the Presence of the Holy Spirit more than made up for the lack of beautiful facilities. This church is far richer than many in the States because their currency is the presence of God and not paper money.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We preached a simple message and shared a couple of testimonies of the Kingdom coming with power that day. The people responded hungrily to the message. We released the power of God and had everyone praying for each other. Miracles were happening all over the room. Injuries were healed, pains were relieved and many testified to their healing. It was HOT!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5gw-hyKI/AAAAAAAAADk/Is8DIG4cvMw/s1600/DSC_0548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5gw-hyKI/AAAAAAAAADk/Is8DIG4cvMw/s320/DSC_0548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482632831435917474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">9 Story Building Reduced to Rubble</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Later that afternoon Pastor Paul loaded us up in the van and took us straight into the city of Port-au-Prince to preach at Pastor Daniel’s afternoon service. This was the Pastor who I had prophesied over the day before. It must have made an impression, he asked us to take the meeting! The devastation in Port-au-Prince was overwhelming. It looked like a warzone. I told several folks that it looked like an apocalyptic movie set. Rubble and destroyed buildings were everywhere. Almost 6 months after the earthquake and most of the city still was in ruins. The international aid that the US and many other countries sent was hijacked by corrupt politicians. We personally witnessed many lots full of heavy equipment, new, clean and totally unused. They should have been busy digging the city out of ruins, but they sit in lots, waiting to be sod on the black market. The UN has a heavy presence in the country but what do they spend their time doing? Were they rebuilding the country? No, they go to the beach! It’s a big joke among the locals.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The church is in the very center of Port-au-Prince. What’s amazing is that this was the epicenter of destruction in the town and yet out of a church of 5,000 people, Pastor Daniel only lost 3 members of his church! What a miracle. There was a 9 story building that bordered the church’s property that completely collapsed, leaving nothing but a huge pile of rubble and perhaps hundreds of dead people inside. The smell was horrific. I had a message for them on David and Goliath, how David was an unqualified shepherd boy that had more courage than the “professional” soldiers. I told them it was time for an army of unqualified David’s rise to the occasion and face the giants of their land, Voodoo, sickness, disease and poverty. We began to release the power of the Gospel in the meeting and told the people to start praying for each other. When we said this, they all looked to Pastor Daniel for permission. He jumped in there and told his folks to jump in and do it which was a huge step of faith on his part, this was all new to them.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5hf0m8tI/AAAAAAAAADs/me9ONncbjas/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBY5hf0m8tI/AAAAAAAAADs/me9ONncbjas/s320/IMG_2006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482632844010779346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wild Worship!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The power of God hit the house! Miracles and healings started happening all over the place. David Hacker came up to me and asked if we could start worshiping. I asked Pastor Daniel (AKA – Heart of David guy) and he readily agreed! We had one of the most fun worship times we’ve ever had, rejoicing in all that God was doing, praying for people and dancing until we sweat through all our clothes. The next day the phone rang off the hook telling of all the miracles that God did that night, but most encouraging was the body of Christ COMING ALIVE!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">TOTAL BLOWOUT.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">To be continued…<br /><br /></span></span> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-38704944222979796582010-06-11T10:18:00.003-04:002010-06-11T12:36:04.406-04:00Haiti Trip Report - Part I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJk4F6m2AI/AAAAAAAAACk/UVF0871TuzU/s1600/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJk4F6m2AI/AAAAAAAAACk/UVF0871TuzU/s320/01-haiti_OVERHEAD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481554611286759426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">We just returned from an 8 day mission trip to Haiti. On this trip we stepped into a level of authority and inheritance that we as a church and ministry have never quite encountered. Every aspect of the trip was “pre-arranged” by the Holy Spirit and we were just along for the ride. While there we were able to minister to several different churches, a group of about 200 pastors and leaders as well as conduct a 3 day crusade in a rented soccer field with several thousand people. Healings and miracles occurred, pastors representing hundreds of churches were equipped and encouraged and the power of Voodoo was broken in a public display! It was awesome!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />WHY WE WENT TO HAITI</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Last year in 2009, two of our young people, Elijah and Jada Drysdale participated in a mission trip with another church. The primary aim of that trip was social in nature, teaching sewing and computer classes to the kids in Pastor Jean Paul’s orphanage. While there, Elijah and Jada were able to share some testimonies about what God is doing in our church with Pastor Paul’s church, encourage Pastor Paul that we can all move in the power of God, as well as pray for several sick people. The impact of their testimonies and the healing of many people they prayed for created a hunger in Pastor Paul for “more” of what they shared. Elijah continued communication with Pastor Paul over several months and Pastor Paul invited a group from our church to come and teach the 200+ Pastors in his Bible school, as well as minister in a large outdoor crusade.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJlHtPkjRI/AAAAAAAAACs/yecMkuhtZjU/s1600/02-Pastor+Paul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJlHtPkjRI/AAAAAAAAACs/yecMkuhtZjU/s320/02-Pastor+Paul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481554879541710098" border="0" /></a>Pastor Paul<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">When it became obvious that this trip was going to happen and the scope of the trip began to come together, I met with Elijah and we together determined that either Pastor Marc or I should go and help train pastors and conduct the crusade. Dates were set, (May 28th - June 4th) inquiries were made and things were coming together. On Tuesday, January 12th we had a staff meeting at the church and discussed the trip almost exclusively. We reserved plane tickets with our travel agent, priced the trip and spent the better part of the day in the office making fliers, overheads and web pages to advertise the trip. At our Pastor’s lunch, we discussed the trip the entire time and prayed, asking the Lord to give us a heart and burden for Haiti, making it clear that this was something we were to do. We had never received anything from the Lord regarding Haiti before and we wanted to be sure. So after a long day of working on nothing BUT our trip to Haiti and with the map of Port-au-Prince still up on my computer monitor, I clicked on Drudgereport.com to check the news before I stepped out of the office for pre-outreach prayer at 5:30pm.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Of course, this was the day the massive earthquake struck Haiti, killing an estimated 300,000 people and causing an untold amount of damage to Port-au-Prince and the outlying areas. The earthquake had JUST occurred and we had spent ALL DAY working on the trip, BEFORE the quake! I began to shake all over with a terrific sense of God’s Sovereignty and Providence. There is NO WAY that Haiti could have been more front and center in our prayers and thinking before the quake. It’s just not possible. I called Pastor Marc and we both agreed that the Lord was behind this trip and had a wonderful plan for Haiti and we were to be a part. In spite of the devastation of the quake, God had a plan for that country and wanted HIS Kingdom to come and HIS will to be done in Haiti.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />We were going and it was pre-arranged.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJleG9Q0yI/AAAAAAAAAC0/I9TtK52JY5I/s1600/DSC_0440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJleG9Q0yI/AAAAAAAAAC0/I9TtK52JY5I/s320/DSC_0440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481555264401363746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">THE NEED IN HAITI</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />It took two days after the quake to reach Pastor Paul. 238 of his church members were killed in the quake, yet the <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/2010/01/dinner_delay_spares_56_childre.html" target="_blank">56 orphans in his home were completely spared due to them serving a late meal.</a> They spent several weeks looking for survivors in the rubble, burying church members and mourning their loss. After several weeks I spoke with Pastor Paul for the first time. I told him that we had received an offering for the work and asked first of all if we could come earlier than we had planned and secondly what we could bring. His response amazed me. He simply said, “Bring the Word of the Kingdom, we need the Word”. I said, “Yeah, but we have some money and can bring supplies, food, water, whatever you need.” He said again, “Bring the Word! That’s what we need, the Word of God!” Three times during that conversation he turned down physical aid and simply asked us to bring the Word of God’s present Kingdom and the power of God. This impressed me. Here are people as desperate as any on the planet and they were hungry for the Word of God.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Pastor Paul understands that all the finances and international aid in the world will not fill the void caused by generations of Voodoo worship and political corruption. The ONLY hope for Haiti is Jesus and His Kingdom destroying the work of the enemy.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJlvVAptJI/AAAAAAAAAC8/VyLqBY6Wf2k/s1600/IMG_2155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/TBJlvVAptJI/AAAAAAAAAC8/VyLqBY6Wf2k/s320/IMG_2155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481555560231449746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tent city where 2 million now live</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">PREPARING FOR THE TRIP</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Haiti isn’t a place you go on a whim, especially after a natural disaster of biblical proportions. With the humanitarian crises alone, you are also dealing with one of the epicenters of demonic power on the earth! It is commonplace in Haiti for Voodoo priests to walk in extreme power, killing, maiming and destroying lives at will with their black magic curses. I heard David Hogan speak on a recording recounting some of the experiences they have had with the demonic. These stories are extreme for us in the west and stretch our ability to even believe them with stories of shape shifters, death curses and the like. He said in this recording that the witchcraft they are dealing with in Mexico is second only to the witchcraft in Haiti!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />So we took the trip very seriously. We made a conscious decision to not be flippant about the devil and his schemes. We would not fear him, but we would not walk in presumption either. On a trip like this presumption can get you killed. So we prayed. We fasted. We sought God and we entered into that Psalm 91 secret place of the Most High God. To think that the enemy would let us equip several hundred pastors in the power of the Gospel and conduct a large open air crusade with miracles, healings and the Gospel of the Kingdom without a fight would be ludicrous. The enemy would do everything he could to stop the message from going forth and the power of God to be released. I prophesied to the team, warning them that we would have at least 1 encounter with Voodoo priests. On the last night of the crusade, several of them showed up to mess things up.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />It didn’t work.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To be continued…</span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-23440933130223777232010-03-23T11:55:00.002-04:002010-03-23T11:57:26.473-04:00Exuding Jesus – Part II<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">After hitting up the health department, Josh and I headed over to the McDonald’s next door to Grady hospital to have a bite to eat and wait on a buddy of mine. Josh and I sat down at a booth and were just sitting there eating delicious McDonald’s nuggets when a lady came up to the table next to us on a walker, walking terribly slow, obviously in pain.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />MIRACLE AT MICKEY D’S</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />As we were finishing up lunch I got up and asked her why she was on a walker. She went on to tell me that her back was injured 7 years before and has been in constant, chronic pain since. Her doctor told her that she should be using a wheelchair and she declined it, knowing that “once she got in one, she would never get out.” I agreed and congratulated her for refusing the chair and opting for the walker. She told me that she was in constant pain and came into the hospital for weekly pain treatments where she would get an injection. She was at McDonald’s getting a quick bite before heading into her appointment.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I told her that the reason I asked how she was feeling was because her walker got my attention. I told her that the walker got my attention because we have a wall at the church covered in crutches, canes, casts and braces. I told her how we’ve seen God do many miracles and deliver folks from every kind of sickness and disease and asked her if I could pray for her. I had her rate her pain, which was only around a 4, but steady for the last 7 years. I also had her move around and show me her range of motion, which was almost mummy like. This poor lady could hardly move!<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">I prayed and released the Kingdom of God on her body while my new friend Josh stood at a distance and watched. I told him to watch her face because I knew what was going to happen. When I rebuked and commanded a spirit of infirmity to leave her body and told pain to go, it happened! The presence of God hit us both and we reeled back. She took a deep breath and I asked her, “Where did your pain go?”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Her eyes got huge and tears welled up in them as she said, “It’s… going!” She was literally feeling the pain leave her body. She said it was probably at a 2 at that moment. I prayed again, commanding the spirit of infirmity to loose its grip on her and life to enter her body and we were hot with another tangible wave of God’s presence and power. It felt good! She was beaming and I just knew the pain was gone. I asked Josh, “Are you watching this??” and he nodded, looking a little bewildered. She checked and all the pain was gone for the first time in seven years! I had her moving, bending and doing things she couldn’t do moments before. Her mobility was normal! She was still a little fearful about the pain and took it slowly, but her countenance and body language was totally different from 5 minutes before! She walked halfway out of the restaurant without her walker and told me that she still wanted to hold on to it.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I asked her why she was in such a rush and told me that she was late for her pain management appointment. I asked her what she was going to tell her doctor and she told me she was going to show him that there was no longer any pain and she could do things she hadn’t done in 7 years!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />THE FRAGRANCE OF DEATH</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />So now my buddy shows up and the three of us start pacing the sidewalks looking for folks to pray for. We ended up in a nearby park and I see a group of homeless guys standing around, listening to music. One of the guys was sitting by a wheel chair loaded down with stuff, he was a big dude with nappy dreads and obviously homeless. I walked up to him and asked him whose wheelchair it was and why weren’t they in it? He was nice enough at first, telling me that they just used it like a cart and weren’t actually disabled. I was just chatting politely with him when he asked what I was doing there. I looked him dead in the eye and made the statement I always make saying, “Jesus is King and His Kingdom is on the earth!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The guy went absolutely insane!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />All sense of civility immediately went out the door and the guy transformed in front of me. He started cursing me, calling me names and threatening to hurt me. He stood up, got a few inches from my face and was totally berating me. He said again and again how he was going to cut me and kick my *&% all over the street, etc. etc. etc. He was absolutely FOUL. I was a little surprised, the only thing I had said was that Jesus is King and then he went off. I understood that he was totally demon possessed and I really wasn’t talking with a guy any more, this was a spirit talking to me.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />He was intent on my leaving and getting out of “his” area. I told the guys with me afterwards that I have this problem. When demons address me and threaten me with violence and start ordering me around, I have a VERY difficult time doing what they tell me to do. I feel that if I do what a demon is telling me to do, it wins. So I just stood there, taking the threats, taking the abuse, but not budging an inch. Actually, my heart was beating fast, but all I could do was smile. I assured him that I would leave, but not yet. This drove him crazy! He was adamant that I leave, RIGHT THEN, but I refused flatly. I don’t know how long he kept up the tirade and how long I just stood there smiling, but I was determined to not let the demon tell me what to do. After a while, he sat down and calmed down a bit, getting out of my face. I waited a minute or two and then slowly backed away.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I WIN.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />We ended up talking to another homeless guy for awhile, praying for several physical problems and hearing an amazing testimony how God had delivered our new buddy from drugs several years before. The ENTIRE time we were talking to our new friend, the angry dude was cussing, cursing and literally spewing out threats from about 20 feet away.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” II Corinthians 2:16</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-14460204350012011552010-03-17T09:08:00.001-04:002010-03-17T09:09:54.330-04:00Exuding Jesus – Part I<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">I had a couple of wild experiences the other day that illustrated to me a familiar passage of scripture:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” II Corinthians 2:14-17</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I saw very clearly that to those hungry for God or searching for good, I am a fragrance, odor or aroma of life. To those under the influence and committed to the devil, I am the fragrance of death.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Let me explain:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />ANOINTING FOR KIDS</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Earlier in the week I had committed to a young man to take him down to one of my favorite places, Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta. He needed to get a certified copy of his birth certificate from the hospital to enroll in a GED course. We went into the Department of Health office across the street from Grady, filled out the necessary paperwork and sat down, patiently awaiting our turn in the crowded waiting room. A lady in the waiting room started staring at me and the young man I was with, doing so several times and making me just a bit uncomfortable. I looked at her, wondering what was up and she asked me, “Are you a recruiter?” I said, “Recruiter?” She said, “Yeah, like an Army Recruiter or something?” I told her, “No, not really an army recruiter, but I do a bit of recruiting.” She looked at me and the young man standing next to me totally bewildered. I explained that I’m just a believer that’s trying to help some folks out.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />She began quizzing me about working with young people and then began to tell me about her grandson, who apparently has been doing a bit of hell-raising. Not 2 minutes into the conversation she asked me for my phone number declaring, “My grandson needs to spend time with you, it would be good for him.” I told her she was absolutely right, it WOULD be good for him to spend time with me. She got mom on the phone and everything, setting up a time for me and the apparent hellion to have a little Jesus chat.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The young lady with her (still don’t know the connection) had two kids with her. Watching Grandma’s interaction she held out her one year old and said, “Take him, he needs it!” I was like, “You want me to take your son?!” She said, “Not permanently, but I need help, you can help!” I assured her that I could help, but that she needed to raise her own kids. She went on telling me about her 6 year old daughter, who was sitting there making evil faces at me. This little girl she assured me was “full of the devil”. Mom went on to tell me about how her little precious angel of 6 years would cuss adults out, gets kicked out of school and basically is ruining her life. I was encouraging Mom with Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4, telling her that she needed to TRAIN them, not suggest, to DISCIPLINE, not reject them. The little girl over there was shooting me some serious stink eye and basically just manifesting the devil.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Without even asking, I put my hand on her head and spoke the word, “Peace”. She settled down instantly and I continued to pray, rebuking anger and rebellion and commanding peace and joy. She then grabbed on to my arm, TIGHTLY. I sat down next to her as she hugged on my arm and kept talking with Mom. I am not kidding, within about 1 minute, she was fast asleep! She had a death grip on my arm, but her body went completely limp and she just passed out, rhythmic breathing and all! Mom was seriously weirded out and started telling the uncle, “Look at her, she won’t let this man go and now she’s gone to sleep on him!” She started pulling her little away and I told her, “It’s ok, this is good for her!’ Mom looked at me like I had 3 heads and I continued, “Your daughter has been tormented by devils, we prayed and God set her free. Now, she’s feeling the presence of God flowing out of me and it’s bringing her peace, so let’s just let her hang out here.” Mom agreed and we kept talking. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />About 15-20 minutes later, she stirred and it was time for mom to go. She gave me a big hug and walked out without a word.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To be continued…</span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-16441564023608066182010-03-12T12:08:00.002-05:002010-03-12T12:12:10.588-05:00Revival at the Prison<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >I’ve wanted to get into the prisons for years. It’s just so thoroughly biblical:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” Matthew 25-34-36</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Looking into it, the only way I could see to get into them was to go with an established group. I got several packets of information and spoke to several different prison ministry leaders, many of which required us to sign a waiver committing to NOT praying in tongues and focusing on other “questionable” practices like praying for the sick, etc.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Needless to say, going in with them would not be an option.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Several months ago, Linda Ruby, a wonderful gospel preaching Grandma and part of our team came to me expressing a strong desire to get into the jails. We prayed and agreed that must get in there on our own and not through some restrictive program that we couldn’t agree with. We asked God for favor and to open the door. As we would learn, the chaplain in a prison is like a pastor and the prisoners in the jail are his parishioners. To come in and minister at his prison, you had to get permission from the chaplain (pastor) to share his pulpit. So after exhaustively testing every possible venue, God opened one door, with one prison chaplain.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />That’s all we would need.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br />GETTING IN</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />We scheduled the certification, got our nametags and put our first service on the schedule. Now, I’ve visited prisoners in county lockups, but had never been inside a legit prison facility. Barbed wire, guard towers and automatic weapons greeted us as we went in to check out another ministry doing services inside the prison. We wanted to see exactly what the prisoners and chaplain considered a “successful” service. We met some of the prisoners, listened to our new friend preach a fairly lackluster message and eagerly awaited our chance to preach to the men.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />A couple weeks later, we went in. We were supposed to have an hour and a half, but things were running late that night, so we really only had about 45 minutes. 45 minutes to introduce ourselves, make an impression, preach the Gospel, lead people to Jesus and heal the sick. More than enough time.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />I preached a very simple message of the Kingdom and its King, Jesus. The prisoners sat in rapt attention as I made a distinction between the “gospel” of salvation and the Gospel of the Kingdom and the difference between Jesus as Savior and Jesus as Lord and King of their lives. I told several stories of miracles that we had seen. I promised them that the Kingdom was here, it was now and it would work inside of their prison. I told them that geography is irrelevant to the Kingdom of God and that God was no respecter of persons, what he had done for others, he would do to them.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />It was time for an altar call. I thought back to when we visited the other ministry’s service in the jail. At the end of the message, the preacher gave the standard, “Every head bowed, every eye closed.” It didn’t work too well, I’m not sure anyone came up and got saved. So I did something I like to do. I challenged the men saying, “Tonight, with every head held high and every eye wide open, I want to come down here and stand before God and tell everyone that you are making Jesus the King and Lord of your life. That you are repenting of doing life ‘your way’ and you are repenting of your sin and backslidden heart. Why? Because if you can’t come and do that, then you won’t make it anyway!”</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />They all but ran towards the altar. A rush of men ready to do some business with God crowded the altar. The sick came as well. We prayed a simple prayer together and committed ourselves to God lock, stock and barrel. The presence of God was overwhelming. Many swooned under the power of God and we our team began to pray for them to be filled with the Holy Ghost and healed. One of the men, a guy with permanent impairment to his vision was completely healed, as God dissolved the cloud in his eye as we prayed. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />The testimony from one of the men that night was, "I have been in prison for 18 years and in this prison for 8 years and I have NEVER seen a response like the one we saw tonight. Never!" </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br />THE RESULTS</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />The next morning, I wanted to call the chaplain and see if he was ok with what went on. Would the momentum started by our first service be carried on or quenched? I have seen many a move of the Holy Spirit crushed by insecure leaders, unsure of God’s power.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Here’s the message that greeted my inbox first thing that morning:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />************************************</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Pastor Lawson,</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />I thank God for your coming to the prison. We have been praying for a real Revival to take place within our prison population. I am convinced that your ministry along with some others are helping us reach our goal. I heard about the 25 men that gave their life to Christ last night. My prayers have been answered so continue to pray for our strength in the Lord and the great work here at the prison. This is the first time that we have had such a response during our time working here. I believe that Jesus is doing something special at this prison. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Thank you for being a willing vessel for the master. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />God Bless You and Your Ministry.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br />Chaplain *Name Withheld*</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />************************************</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />That’ll do. Come on Jesus!</span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-62532131669476794062009-12-01T16:39:00.004-05:002009-12-01T16:47:37.891-05:00Something in the Mail Today!<br>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/SxWOgqFRPtI/AAAAAAAAAB4/N-8pcyGm8hs/s1600/11259_221777749465_812579465_4163334_3784301_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLWvnI-hRwE/SxWOgqFRPtI/AAAAAAAAAB4/N-8pcyGm8hs/s320/11259_221777749465_812579465_4163334_3784301_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410387219058867922" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRYANT%7E1.LAW%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Marc & NorthGate Family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Don’t know if you remember me. I came to your church near death in January. I laid in a chair by the thermostat. Marc each time you adjusted the thermostat you would lay hands on me. Then the church body laid hands on me. I was on Oxygen, chemotherapy; blood pressure was 50/30.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>God healed me just a few weeks later. Came back a few months later and you didn’t recognize me. I would like this Oxygen tank to be put on the healing wall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>With much love, blessings & gratitude for your faith,<o:p></o:p>
<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rhonda Whitmore</span><o:p style="font-weight: bold;"></o:p><st1:place><st1:city>
<br /></st1:city></st1:place></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place><st1:city>Arlington</st1:city> <st1:state>Texas</st1:state></st1:place></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place><st1:state>
<br /></st1:state></st1:place></span></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-54502407568841241452009-11-04T12:00:00.003-05:002009-11-04T12:10:40.448-05:00Muchos Milagros<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Miracles are normal. The supernatural has become natural. So normal and so natural in fact that it’s now difficult to muster up enthusiasm for the every day miracles that God is doing. Things like the ankles, backs, legs and diseases that run when we pray or the sinner that gets convicted by the Prophetic and gives their life to Jesus. That’s wrong, I know, but it’s a problem we’re dealing with. It’s a better problem than no healing and no power, but it is a problem. We can’t be ungrateful, we must not be ungrateful. Every healing and every miracle is a testament to God’s goodness and His great love for us and the people we are ministering to. Every soul saved and life delivered is a present tense, now demonstration of the power of the gospel.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />So how do you fight becoming familiar with victory? How do you fight off what I term “Victory Fatigue”? You have to reach back into your history and attempt to remember what it was like when they didn’t get healed, when they didn’t get saved or didn’t get delivered. You have to drum up the old feelings of fear about talking to a stranger or insecurity that are so now long forgotten. Boldness is now the norm. I’m continually encouraged by the new and exciting ways our folks are pressing in and contending for more, but the water level has been raised. We’re not going back to where we were, we can never go back to where we used to be. There’s more, there’s so much more. We know this, we need this. Yet on our way to what is promised we must cherish what has already been realized or we risk losing it.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />So we tell the testimonies and as we do so, we put ourselves in the shoes of the person we’re praying for and we rejoice. We thank God for what He is doing and has done. We are pressing in for more, but we are honoring what He is doing among us.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Check it out.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />KINGDOM INVADES THE GAME</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />This testimony came in from Erin. They were at a high school football game recently and were having a slow night. So what did they do? They decided to liven things up!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />"Several of us were in a group...we walked around for a bit...talked to a few people and nothing happened. Now, when I say "nothing happened" I mean, we gave some people prophetic words, and they were totally right on. We prayed for them, etc. But nothing really "took off". :)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />So, I had this thought, "I'm not leaving until either something happens, or I preach the gospel to all of these kids".</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Sooo, I stood up on the stone wall and shouted "Hey guys! I have some awesome news! Jesus is King and the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I then told them we were here to prove it, and asked them if they needed healing, etc. They didn't, but they had friends and family that needed healing. So we prayed for them---which kind if got the attention of some kids... Bottom line, an hour later we were still there---healing kid’s ankles, knees, and hands. We taught the kids that since Jesus healed them, they had authority over that particular thing now. And we encouraged them to heal their friends and themselves...which they did!!! And their friends got healed! It was awesome!!!"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />TELL THEM THEN SHOW THEM</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />An outreach team was in a local neighborhood and ran across a group of about 8-10 young people and started prophesying over them, releasing the Kingdom and telling them about the power of God.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />A few minutes later, they went into the home of a lady we have been ministering to for several weeks and found out that she had injured her wrist, was in severe pain and was wearing a wrist brace. Not content to merely tell them about the power of God, they decided to SHOW the young people what they were just talking about. They called the kids and had them pray for the lady with the injured wrist. It was healed INSTANTLY! No pain, full mobility and she gave us the wrist brace! It's been added to the trophy wall!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />LUMP DISSOLVED, ANKLE HEALED</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />One of our outreach teams prayed for a woman that had several lumps in her breast. After coming back they found that she had gone to the doctors, had a mammogram and the lumps had dissolved!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />They also found out that she had pain in her ankle for the last 5 years after breaking it in an accident in two places. She couldn't go up or down stairs or put pressure on that foot and her toes wouldn't bend very far and always felt like they needed to pop but wouldn't. We prayed and she tested it out and she then went up and down stairs 3 times with no pain and then she moved her toes in like she couldn't before and when she moved them every time they would pop!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />HOLY GHOST HIP REPLACEMENT</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />An outreach team was in a local neighborhood and prayed for a lady with severe hip pain during an equipping event we hosted recently. As they prayed for her, all pain left and she was able to walk normally without pain or lack of mobility. But that's not the best part...</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The team came back a couple of weeks later only to find that she had been to the Doctors and demonstrated her lack of pain and mobility to her doctor. The Doctor was so surprised that he ordered a batch of X-Rays to see what had changed. What our outreach team did not know was that she had no cartilage in her hip, which was the cause of her pain. She was actually scheduled to have hip replacement surgery.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The doctor verified that where she once had NO cartilage, she now had PERFECT CARTILAGE! She is now pain free and has cut down on many of her once needed medications.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Come on Jesus!</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-79974174239028517532009-10-10T11:59:00.001-04:002009-10-10T12:04:20.939-04:00Fall On The Rock!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Many times I have used the expression, “fall on the Rock!” It’s become something of a mantra for me when talking to other Christians. What I am doing is warning believers to embrace the cross and take initiative in humbling themselves. Lots of folks just look at me, kind of understanding but not really comprehending what I am saying to them. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Let’s make it clear:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />And He looked at them and said, What then is this which is written, "The Stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the Head of the corner? Whoever shall fall on that Stone shall be broken, but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Luke 20:17,18</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />In context, the Lord was telling the story about the owner of a filed that rented out his field to vinedressers. When the Lord of the vineyard sent his servants for fruit, the vinedressers beat and sent them away. Ultimately the Lord sent His son to them and they killed Him. The climax of the story is the owner of the vineyard coming back to take possession of his own vineyard and killing the workers that He hired! The point of this story is simple: be a good steward, the King is coming BACK.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Then the Lord tells them something amazing, He says:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“Whoever shall fall on that Stone shall be broken, but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Luke 20:18</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />He tells them that He is the stone. More than that, He is making a statement that ultimately we will ALL be broken, regardless. It’s like we have no choice in the matter. God says that we can be broken big or broken small, but we WILL be broken! Of course, I would rather be broken in pieces than ground to powder and I don’t know anyone who is in their right mind that wants to be ground into powder. Big pieces are better.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />So how do we fall on the rock?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />TWO STORIES</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />There are two stories in the Bible of people that came to Jesus that illustrate this story very well. Both of them we are very familiar with, but did we understand the message? The first is the story of the rich young ruler:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“And behold, one came and said to Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to Him, Which? Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The young man said to Him, I have kept all these things from my youth up; what do I lack yet?” Matthew 19:16-20</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />This young man came to Jesus seeking a good thing, eternal life. When Jesus gave him the answer, “keep the commandments” his response revealed his heart. Instead of humbly accepting the Word, he still sought to be justified and replied: “which commandment?” Jesus gave him a laundry list including don’t murder, don’t steal and don’t commit adultery. The young man tells Jesus that he has in fact kept ALL these commandments, yet still profoundly feels lack and Jesus’ response is extreme:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19: 21,22</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />Jesus tells him, “Ok, if you want to be perfect (complete) go and sell EVERYTHING you have and give it to the poor, then come and follow me.” Jesus upped the ante and basically told the guy, “Give it all away”. The man went away sad, because he was rich and had many possessions. This story is a dramatic example of the cost of the cross and for years has inspired many folks to give everything they have away to pursue perfection. Now, that’s noble, but I think we are missing the point.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Let’s look at another rich man that came to Jesus, Zaccheus:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“And going in, He passed through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, who was a chief tax-collector. And he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, to see who He was. And he could not because of the press, because he was little in stature. And he ran in front and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him. For He was to pass through that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him. And He said to him, Zaccheus! Hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house. And hurrying he came down, and received Him joyfully.” Luke 19:1-6</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />We find the same basic story, a man of resource came to Jesus, but this story ends much differently than the last one. We know that Zaccheus had wealth because he was a tax collector and tax collectors became very wealthy extorting money from Jews as they gathered tax revenue for Rome. We also know that he was dishonest:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“And seeing, they all murmured, saying, He has gone in to stay with a sinful man.” Luke 19:7</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />The people were offended with Jesus because He was staying with a sinful man. Zaccheus was a known liar and thief. Yet this story ended so differently than the previous one with the “righteous” young ruler. In hearing the murmuring of the people that he was a wicked man, Zaccheus response was immediate:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“And Zaccheus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor. And in anything I accused anyone falsely, I restore it fourfold.” Luke 19:8</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />Zaccheus stood and willingly gave HALF of his possessions to the poor and returned four-fold what he had stolen and defrauded. Jesus’ response was awesome:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“And Jesus said to him, This day salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.” Luke 19:9</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />Jesus proclaimed over Zaccheus that salvation had come to him! How is that? The rich man was REQUIRED to give his ENTIRE house to experience the blessings of salvation and Zaccheus got off with only giving HALF! How does that work?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />“And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he who shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />Simple. It’s a heart issue. God looks at the heart. The rich young ruler thought he was hot stuff, so the Lord raised the bar to a level that he couldn’t reach. Instead of humbling Himself, the Lord had to do it for him! The rock (Jesus) fell on the rich young ruler and he was reduced to powder. Trust me, we don’t want God humbling us, he does a much better job than we ever could. Zaccheus on the other hand humbled HIMSELF. He fell on the rock. His sacrifice and repentance was acceptable in the Lord’s sight because it was willingly offered. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The moral of this story?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />FALL ON THE ROCK.</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-72162452839477203072009-10-08T11:15:00.004-04:002009-10-08T11:32:18.975-04:00Miracles by Madden<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">For you guys that don’t know Madden, Madden is a young lady that went to our church for a couple of months before leaving for college. Before going to college, we hung out on the streets and “did the stuff”. She also went with us on the team to Indiana and we saw all sorts of cool stuff. Well, Madden has continued to take the reality of the Kingdom with her everywhere she goes, “As She Goes”. Here is a note that she posted on Facebook about her Adventures in God:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />*edited for length.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Do You Believe In Miracles? I do.</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Tuesday, August 11, 2009</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Jesus is King.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />If you are "religious" you won’t like what this is about, and I am okay with that. Every Tuesday & Thursday for the past few months I’ve been with people in downtown Atlanta. The people I enjoy being with do drugs, they drink, and some of them are even homeless. I do not hold that against them, in actuality it makes me love and care for them even more. A group of people from NorthGate (www.ngca.org) go all over Atlanta and share about Jesus. Simply share what Jesus has TOLD us to do in Matthew 10:8. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />To my “religious friends:” I have “stepped out of the box.” This box was put around me by the church. The chains of religion. Rules. Regulations. Fake Sunday smile. The typical “STANDARDS” of a church. Jesus didn’t have standards for the people who really wanted His heart. He never once said, “Get on your best clothes, shining shoes, newly cut hair, and come sing a hymn to me.”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I made this note to share with you the awesome things that Jesus is doing through me & my friends on a daily basis. He says ask and we will receive, so I am asking for supernatural experiences everywhere I go.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />August 4, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />I prayed for a lady that has been unable to walk, [in a wheelchair] for 14 years, she walked.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />August 6, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- A few friends and I prayed for a lady with hip pain. It was an 10 on a scale of 1-10, and went to a zero. She could walk again without any pain.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- A friend and I prayed for a guy's headache. It left instantly.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- A friend and I prayed for a guy's knee, it was a 6 on a scale of 1-10, pain left and went to "less than a 1."</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />August 13, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- I prayed for a lady's headache, gone instantly.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- A few friends and I prayed for people in ATL tonight. 3 of them claimed Jesus as their King. New brother and sisters, that's what's up!!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- I attempted praying for a limping lady at Waffle House, and she dominated me(not a good dominate either). hahaha (Matthew 5:11)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />August 17, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- I was in class today, started a conversation with a girl next to me. She told me she was Methodist, but is now agnostic. I became very interested and I asked her what happened? I answered some questions she had and told her it’s not about church/religion, but relationship. I told her that I love Jesus with all my heart and that His power proves to me that He is real. I explained to her about deaf ears opening and blind people seeing. She then went on to tell me she has a brain tumor and constant headaches. I prayed for her headache, (starting was an 7/8 on a scale of 1-10), afterwards it was a 0! Thank you Jesus. I am believing for NO TUMOR, SHE IS TOO!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />August 31, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- I was in my dorm room with a friend that lives down the hall and she said, "Madden! Do you have any medicine? My back is KILLING." I replied, "Well, I believe I do but I could always just pray for your back and you won't need medicine." From what I understand, she doesn't do the whole "church thing" but she gave me permission to pray for her back. She said it was a 6 on a scale of 1-10, I prayed and nothing happened. But, her shoulder then began to hurt. I prayed for her shoulder, all pain left. I made her stand up, and then I prayed for her back again, all the pain left. Jesus is so awesome and showing Himself on this campus! YES!!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />September ??, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- A friend of mine has back pain, went from a two to a zero. Jesus is King over small pain too!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />September 16, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- A random guy at Wesley (organization on campus) was wearing a ankle brace. He said he felt pain, I prayed, and IN JESUS NAME all the pain left him instantly.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />September 17, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- I prayed for a friends "KILLER HEADACHE" and in Jesus name all of the pain left him on the spot. It was awesome, and Jesus is King over EVERYTHING. (Even hangover headaches)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />September 19, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- The same friend and I were walking around Wal-Mart waiting for Jesus to show us someone else. A man names George stuck out to me, so we talked to him. At this point George has two hearing aides and a knee brace. His knee was hurting as a 12 on a scale of 1-10. We prayed and commanded the pain and deafness to leave his body and it did! The pain went from a 12 to a 8, then to a zero. He said that before he has no cartilage in knee, but we prayed and afterwards he felt more strength than he ever has felt before. He was planned to have double knee replacement, but not we are all believing for this to not happen!! We walked away for a while, then we went back to talk to George again. We asked him how his hearing was and he took his hearing aides out! My friend and I began to whisper to him and he was talking back and having a PERFECT conversation. He said, "I can hear! I can hear without these hearing aides!!" After our whispering conversation he put the hearing aides in his pocket and walked away!!!! As I was praying I prayed, "Fire of God, burn these hearing aides up NOW in Jesus name." When we were talking later he told me, "My hearing aides are being burnt up. If they are not used the battery burns them up!" Deafness and a knee replacement DESTROYED in Jesus name!!!!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />September 29, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- A few weeks ago a friend told me that she possibly has breast cancer. We had people from NorthGate pray over a hanky, then we sent it to her in the mail. Today she is cancer free! Jesus is King over all sickness and diseases.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- Last night a friend of mine had a migraine. We prayed for it, and nothing was happening. We kept praying for it and the migraine went from VERY painful to nothing at all! We're believing for no more migraines. Migraines die in Jesus name!!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />October 7, 2009</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />- I prayed for a guy who was weighed down with depression, anger, confusion, and also a hand that was broken and never healed. I prayed for his emotional problems, and Jesus healed my brother in Christ of those. I then prayed for his hand, and the bone snapped back into place! He was wearing a hand brace, took it off, and showed me the literal difference! It was insane, and Jesus can do unbelievable things. We started a wall of medical equipment in the Wesley Chapel!!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- After praying for him, a girl came up to Lydia and I and asked us to pray for her knees. Apparently she was born with her femurs twisted, and as a result her knees were out of place and her feet were twisted to the side. She has never been able to run around, sad. Lydia, Heidi, and I prayed for her knees and commanded them to get BACK IN PLACE IN JESUS NAME and THEY DID! It was a supernatural miracle, and it was the coolest thing to witness, her knees literally snapped back into place and she was able to jump around. I loved it! Jesus is King, and ALL sickness WILL BOW! </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />- Neck pain healed in Jesus name, Jesus is KING over all pain and sickness!!!! </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Madden Sandlin</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-52143191360171161402009-10-01T11:40:00.004-04:002009-10-01T12:06:52.289-04:00America’s ONLY Hope<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Freedom and personal liberty are being stripped away at historic levels, our national debt is rising and the flood of immorality threatens the fabric of this land called America. Called to be both the salt and light of the world, more than I have ever seen, Christians are feeling the urge to “do something” to affect the situation. Many organizations both inside and outside the church are responding to the groundswell in the Christian community offering a/the “solution(s)” that, through some clever Biblical exegesis seems right, righteous and Biblical. From protesting to praying, Christians ARE mobilizing in record numbers for purposes, both political and moral.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yet in all our fervor, it seems that we are neglecting the simple solution that Jesus gave us for all the ills of humanity:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yeah, I know, just saying that seems so tired and worn. It’s not nearly as exciting as maybe protesting, picketing or a prayer vigil. But it’s what we have to work with. How did the Gospel become so unpopular among Christians? Why is preaching the Gospel with power something we never do? Why will we pray, fast and worship for years on end but neglect preaching to the lost? Why can we mobilize for a march but not for preaching the message? Why are we so free and bold to “tell is like we see it” in a political discussion online yet so scared to tell our neighbor about Jesus?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">How did preaching the Gospel become the last resort?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">I believe that most Christians don’t know what we have been given in the Gospel. If we did, we would be more vocal about Jesus and His Kingdom than we would be about voicing our opinion on the latest newsbyte. I am not saying that political action or commentary is bad, it’s not. I’m not saying that prayer vigils or fasting is bad, it isn’t. It’s just not what Jesus told us to do to save a lost and dying world, that’s all.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">I get the feeling that we think our problems in this day and age are unique, new and different than the ones Jesus faced in his generation. Maybe they are of a different scope and magnitude, but Jesus’ words and His solutions to the problems of humanity are timeless! They will work, IF we use them.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Boldly and brazenly I will tell you exactly WHY we as a country have found ourselves in such a dire predicament:</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We don’t preach or live the Gospel.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">If we did, there would be no abortion problem, no national debt, near 100% employment and no healthcare debate. There would be no reason to protest immorality, pray against corruption or fast for righteous judges.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE ABORTION SOLUTION</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Abortion is the termination of life inside the womb. In the vast majority (95%) of abortions performed in the US, the main factor is not the health of the mother or baby or an abortion of a child caused by rape or incest but rather a simple inconvenience on the part of the mother. That’s right; most babies are aborted because the presence of a child in the mother’s life does not suit her. Juniors’ presence isn’t convenient so let’s kill the baby! From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million legal abortions occurred in the US.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">It’s right that the church is outraged over such a holocaust of the unborn. But her chosen solution to end this siege on life is unbiblical and largely ineffective.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">God’s solution to abortion is simple. Preach the Gospel to the lost that are having abortions, leading them into a relationship with the Lord of Life. No Christian, full of the Holy Spirit would or could ever consider abortion as an option. If you have, you are not saved. That means that every person you have ever led to the Lord eliminated one person from the pool of eligible abortion participants. It’s actually very simple. Instead of being reactive against the sins of lost people, why not bring in the lost? Seriously, if the church spent one tenth of the time she spends protesting, praying or fasting about abortion in actually preaching the Gospel to people that have abortions, abortion would be a non-issue in a matter of a few years. Let’s have a real life movement that takes all the research that’s been done, identifies the primary recipients of abortions and mobilize to preach the Gospel to that demographic!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Why don’t we stop trying to change the laws that sinners cower under to excuse their sin and just get down to the dirty business of winning the lost?. What about a life movement that is pro-active instead of reactive? Why are we acting surprised at what sinners do and the laws that they pass? And speaking of immoral laws, here is the solution to the problem of liberal activist judges that pass laws that corrupt the fabric of our society: Preach the Gospel to lawyers.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fewer lost = less sin.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It’s so simple no one will do it.</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE HEALTH CARE SOLUTION</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">A huge topic in the news now is the great Health care debate of 2009. Both sides generally agree that insurance premiums are skyrocketing and millions of people in America don’t have access to quality health care. Both sides are also proposing “solutions” that are extremely complicated and expensive.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">What can the church do about this HUGE problem?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Look at the church in the book of Acts! When they prayed, people were healed. So many in fact that they brought in the sick from the surrounding towns and they were ALL healed! (Acts 5:16) Healing is as much in the Atonement that Jesus provided as the salvation of your soul and the forgiveness of your sins. The church has lost the conviction of this fact and has abdicated her responsibility to heal the sick to the government. Government is not responsible to heal or provide for the healing of those in our land, the church is! Jesus sent His disciples out in Luke to:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“And He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:2</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Preach the Gospel and heal the sick; two things that the church won’t do. We’ll protest and we’ll pray but we have been called to preach and heal! Maybe instead of supporting one side over the other in the healthcare debate we should open a new front in the debate! What if our city or our town was recognized in the news as being one of the healthiest cities in the nation? Say it’s not possible? It’s already happened! From 1915 – 1920 John G. Lake trained a small group of minister’s that prayed for the sick and ministered healing full time. In 5 years they had over 100,000 documented cases of healing and were declared to be the healthiest city in the US! If Christians got serious about healing the sick, maybe a third option would open in this great healthcare debate? Our Gospel is free, it works against any disease on any demographic (even illegal aliens) and the trained practitioners can reproduce rapidly!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.” Mark 16:15-18</span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-67109382882961514782009-09-17T20:31:00.016-04:002009-10-01T12:03:54.433-04:00American Idols – Part II<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">In my last article on this subject I went after two primary American Idols. And idol is something other than God that we put our trust in. The point I was making is that I have been to several different countries, many of them known for their idolatry. In these countries, the idolatry is obvious, with shrines and graven images being displayed all over the place. I have heard the condescension in the voices of “enlightened” people here in the West as they roll their eyes in disgust at the heinous idolatry of the people of India and their 300 million “gods” and goddesses”.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />But are we just as idolatrous?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />I believe that while we here in the “enlightened” west are in fact VERY idolatrous, our idols are just not as obvious. We serve gods (world rulers in fact) like Mammon & Self. We have placed our marriages, our families, our callings and eternal destinies on the altars of Mammon and aborted millions of innocent babies on the altar of Self. And we do so with the greatest of confessions. Many a family and marriage has been destroyed to the mantra of “I’m just trying to be a good provider, giving my family what they deserve”. Many a baby has been aborted to the mantra of “they wouldn’t have had a good life anyway, with their mom being so young/poor, etc.”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />MAMMON (CONTINUED)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Concerning Money and Mammon, Jesus was very clear that our primary pursuit was NOT to be our personal welfare and the accumulation of material things but rather the pursuit of an invisible kingdom and the King Himself!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” Matthew 6:33</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />We were created to pursue a Kingdom and a King! That is our primary purpose, our ultimate pursuit. God knows how He made us and gave us strict marching orders to go after His Kingdom and His righteousness and NOT the necessities of life! Isn’t that bizarre? This isn’t license to the lazy to do nothing because the Bible goes on to say,</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.” II Thessalonians 3:10</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />No, this command of Jesus was for the type “A” personality, the go-getters and the “doers” of the Word. The Lord’s commandment to “seek FIRST the Kingdom and His righteousness” was more of a direction or marching orders for productive people. He’s aiming us in the right direction, telling us to go after Him FIRST. If we would pursue Jesus and His Kingdom FIRST, then the provision for our daily bread would manifest MUCH easier. Imagine the words of Wisdom and direction you would receive as you lingered in the Presence of the Lord before work in the morning. Imagine the peace and ease that you would carry into your workplace and career as you became more conscious of Him than your circumstances and limitations y spending time with Him every day. Sales would come easier, the pressure would be off and you would soar in your career, working and providing for you and your family without pressure, fear or guilt. Your priorities would be in order and you would rest well knowing that you are RIGHT.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />People, our #1 priority is to pursue the King and His Kingdom. That means what it means. Seek God FIRST, not your paycheck. The same devotion that you pay towards your career, your education and the betterment of your financial standing, invest that in God. The promise is wonderful! IF we will seek Him FIRST, He will GIVE unto us ALL that we need!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />PRACTICAL APPLICATION:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />When we’re talking about seeking FIRST His Kingdom and His righteousness, what are we talking about? We’re talking about the actual pursuit of God, but FIRST! So, how do you pursue God first? Make Him your #1 priority of your everyday life by seeking Him FIRST! Complicated, isn’t it? Practically speaking this means that we spend time with the Lord in worship, prayer and the Word at the start of our day. I’m not advocating a “quiet time” where we give the Lord a small slice of our day and then ignore Him the rest of the day, but I am saying that we make Him a priority and pursue Him FIRST. Turn on the worship music, lay down on the couch or floor with your family and worship God together! Read the Bible and seek Him in the Word, feeding on His Presence and His words, they are life! (John 6:63)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />SELF (CONTINUED)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Jesus came walking the earth preaching a foreign message to the self-absorbed inhabitants of this planet. He said things like,</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">“For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].” Mark 8:35</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />He told people that if you held on to preserve your own life you would be guaranteed to LOSE it! But more incredibly, the way He prescribes to save and preserve is to GIVE IT AWAY for His sake! This Kingdom is an upside down Kingdom! Save it and you lose it or lose it and you save it!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The problem with Christians is we simply don’t believe that. We are vainly attempting to preserve our lives, our families, our schedules and our money all with the hope of saving ourselves and the ones we love. Yet we are losing our marriages, losing our families and losing our fortunes. Our kids grow up and don’t serve the Lord. We’re disillusioned with church, in debt up to our eyes and bitter against our spouses. Why? Jesus told us why! He said that if you would seek to save your lives you WOULD LOSE IT! Yet we spend our entire Christian lives trying to prove Him wrong!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />The answer to our American dilemma is VERY simple: count your lives as nothing and LOSE them for His sake and you will FIND them! Consistently, the happiest people I have ever met with the most solid marriages and families are the ones that have completely LOST their lives in service unto the Lord. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />They have less money because they give what they have and sow into the Kingdom, yet somehow they are always a conduit through which blessing flows and they seem to have more than the person that withholds their fortunes and loses their life savings in investments or the stock market. Kingdom economics; give and it comes back!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />They have less “free” time than their self-preserving friends, committing large portions of their lives to the work of the Gospel and laid down service unto others yet they have a superior “quality” of time, free of bickering, anger and animosity within their marriages and families. They might spend a good amount of time helping others through “crisis” but for themselves, they spend much less time on “crisis” control within their own homes.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Their marriages and families are stronger, yet they spend less time & money on them than their self-serving friends. Many of them have never seen the inside of a counselor’s office, yet daily walk in healthy marriage principles. Their kids are better behaved and well adjusted because Mom and Dad discipline according to what they read in the Bible! Their kids also stick with a Jesus they KNOW on a daily basis in the home and not just one they hear about every once in a blue moon at church.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Jesus is right folks! Give your lives away for His sake and you will TRULY find them.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />PRACTICAL APPLICATION:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />In the Kingdom you GIVE and it COMES BACK! That means that practically we have to give ourselves, our time, our money, our service and our lives for the sake of the Gospel.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Invest your wealth IN THE KINGDOM and not only in this world and its resources. Give to the poor, give to your church and really invest, expecting a return as you would a popular stock or investment scheme. The Kingdom is a good investment!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br />Invest your time IN THE KINGDOM and not only on your personal, vain pursuits and self interests. This means that you willingly GIVE your time to benefit others! Preach the Gospel, heal the sick and raise the dead! It is ALWAYS good time to preach the Gospel. Offer your lives as a living sacrifice to God as you lay down your life for your friends.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><br />So we’ve just touched on two common American idols, but are there more?</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">You bet.</span></span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-54142257225086555002009-09-11T09:37:00.003-04:002009-10-01T11:35:03.782-04:00American Idols<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">In the last couple years I have traveled to several different countries, each known in its own way for their idolatry. And while the idolatry of India, Africa and Central America may be terribly obvious, with their shrines, offerings and devotion to inanimate objects and deities, it has struck me that we in the West are no less idolatrous.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Certainly, the idolatry of India is pronounced. It’s said the Hinduism has produced some 300 million “gods” and “goddesses”. Everywhere we went throughout the country there were small shrines with incense, food offerings and candles being offered to pagan deities. On the streets, in restaurants and even in the dashboards of taxis we used. Shiva the Destroyer and Ganesh the blue elephant are terrible to behold in all of their fell demonic glory. Yet in Mexico, the shrines and the offerings were identical but the images lovelier. Instead of Ganesh and Shiva they worship Mary, the mother of Jesus and other saints. The most obviously demonic was “Holy Death” or Grim Reaper. To them, the one the Bible calls “the last enemy to be destroyed” is worshiped as a saint. How bizarre.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Yet, when I come home to America, we revel in our ingenuity and glory in our intellect. Certainly we are far too advanced of a civilization to worship dumb idols and erect shrines to our gods. Or are we?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />As I look around my home in the States I see the same look of devotion and commitment to “gods” other than the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We erect shrines all right and we give costly sacrifices and offerings at the altars of our idols, they are just prettier than the gods of India, yet no less captivating. Remember that the true test of devotion to an idol is how much we trust in it rather than God and I would venture to say that our trust in many ways is NOT in the Lord, but in other things.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br />MAMMON</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Without a doubt here in the United States we worship money. Jesus called the Spirit behind the love of money and the pursuit of things Mammon and made a startling contrast saying, “You can’t serve both God and money” making the Spirit of Mammon one of the ultimate adversaries or enemies of true worship of God. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Matthew 6:24</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Yet in the US and especially in the church, the pursuit of money and things is a full time obsession. Christians are urged from the pulpit to exercise their faith to get more stuff and be more comfortable in ever larger and larger homes, cars and excessive lifestyles. The #1 destroyer of marriages in the US is financial pressure as people are pushed to the brink to pay the bills for the stuff we don’t really need!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Aren’t we exhorted in the Gospel to be content with what we have, whether little or much? I don’t see any encouragement whatsoever to better our life situation by the accumulation of more and more “stuff”.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Philippians 4:11</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world; But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;">I Timothy 6:7-8</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />There is virtually NOTHING that we here in the US will not do for money. We sacrifice our time, energy, calling, marriages, families and eternal destinies for the pursuit of things and are encouraged and cheered on by many in the church. Our lives are virtual graveyards of relationships, destinies and callings sacrificed to our favorite idol with benefits, Mammon.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Now there is nothing inherently wrong with money and I would MUCH rather be comfortable </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">driving a nice car and living in a nice house than some piece of junk. But the Biblical response is to seek FIRST the Kingdom and God will give us everything we NEED, not necessarily all we WANT. Instead of sacrificing our walk with God and our marriages and families for the sake of money, why don’t we like Paul learn to live contentedly with less for the sake of the Gospel?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Mammon, the pursuit of “wealth” and other “things” are a true American Idol.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br />SELF</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />In the United States, one of our ultimate idols is the pursuit of “Self”. We have self-help, self-awareness, self-consciousness and self-discovery. The doctrine of Oprah and Dr. Phil have infected the pulpits of the church. We are drowning in a sea of self love as we are encouraged more and more to “discover” who we are and love ourselves. In the church we have a very serious plague of selfishness as we hop from place to place to see “what’s in it for me” and all the while making place for “me-time”.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />But isn’t the EXACT opposite nature of the Gospel?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“For the others all seek [to advance] their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Philippians 2:21</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />The Bible says that pagans run after and are concerned after their own interests, but NOT those of Jesus Christ! If we are to be the salt and light we are called to be, let’s start by maybe sacrificing our personal interests for those of others. Isn’t that the very definition of love?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;">John 15:13</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Our willingness here in the United States to sacrifice all on the altar of the demon god of self is proven. In the name of “self” we have slaughtered countless innocent children while indefensible in the womb. We call it abortion. But the worst part of it is in the why. Why have millions of babies been aborted? Because the children we would have had would be an inconvenience to our selfish lifestyle. The ultimate blood sacrifice of human life is done all in the name of self. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Make no mistake America, we are no less devoted to our gods than the heathen of India, Africa or Central and South America. If devotion is measured by what we are willing to give up in pursuit of our demon gods, we win.</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-79246616823825502102009-08-07T10:45:00.002-04:002009-08-07T10:51:04.037-04:00Summer of Miracles!<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: georgia;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRYANT%7E1.LAW%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:p style="font-family: georgia;"></o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wow. We’ve been having a pretty interesting and “full” summer of healings, miracles, salvations and lots of ministry trips. I can honestly say that the last two months has been the busiest that I think I have ever been. Taking the time to actually write down all that God is doing has proved to be pretty difficult. I’ll get to the backlog soon I hope and actually write about some of the things we have seen and experienced in some detail, but in the meantime here’s a quick update:</span><o:p style="font-family: georgia;"></o:p></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><st1:state><st1:place>
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<br />INDIANA</st1:place></st1:state><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />We just returned from a ministry trip to <st1:state><st1:place>Indiana</st1:place></st1:state>. It’s a real long story how God set the whole thing up, but basically I had LOTS of prophetic confirmations starting over 2 years ago. When the opportunity to go presented itself, I jumped on it. It was good, and I think the beginning of something in <st1:state><st1:place>Indiana</st1:place></st1:state> for us personally and corporately as a mission.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>We connected with a church in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Angola</st1:place></st1:country-region>, IN (<a href="http://www.thevisionchurch.us/">http://www.thevisionchurch.us</a>) and some good folks in <st1:place><st1:city>Fremont</st1:city>, <st1:state>IN.</st1:state></st1:place> The basic point of the weekend was to bring the fire burning here, up there! I would say “<st1:city><st1:place>MISSION</st1:place></st1:city> ACCOMPLISHED”. As part of what we do, we not only preach and teach the stuff, but two of the days we were actually able to take the people from the church out on the streets with us to “do the stuff”. We saw some pretty cool miracles.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>
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<br />LESBIANS MEET A HAPPY GOD<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />I was with a small group from the church in a low rent trailer park near the church. We were just walking around looking for opportunities to release the Kingdom “as we went”. I ran across two young ladies and the Lord started showing me some stuff for them. They were really impacted by it and came under some real conviction; mainly because they sheepishly confessed that they were a lesbian couple. They were shocked that God would reveal something GOOD about their lives and destinies. I’ve almost never had to bring down fire and brimstone with unbelievers, normally all I have to do is reveal the kindness of God and they fall apart under conviction, giving their lives to Jesus. So the Lord showed me their histories and what they had been through and as I told them how God wanted to redeem them and bring peace to their lives, with tears in both their eyes they happily turned to Jesus and asked (with their own mouths) for Jesus to come into their lives and rescue them from the mess they made!<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-style: italic;">
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<br />“Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br />I COVET YOUR CANE!</o:p></span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />We were just finishing with the now totally undone lesbian couple and saw a couple ladies walk by on the sidewalk, one of them with a pretty serious limp and walking with a cane. One of the ladies in our little party instantly recognized her as being the lady from Wal-Mart who greets folks as they walk in. I followed them to their doorstep where I asked them why she was walking with a cane. She went on to describe a horrible accident that she had suffered many years before, with surgeries and now arthritis had set into her knee. After asking some questions I told her, “Do you want to know why I asked you about your cane?” She was like, “Yeah, why did you ask me about that?” I went on to tell her that “I covet your cane.” She looked at me like I had three heads. I explained that at our church we had an entire wall covered with canes, casts, crutches, braces and that I had the perfect spot on the wall for hers!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>
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<br />She was pretty weirded out so I proceeded to tell her about the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place> and how God’s desire is for His Will to be done and the Kingdom to come to her, HERE ON EARTH. She invited us in to her home and we stood in her living room, explaining the Kingdom to her. She went on to tell us that she was diabetic, had osteoarthritis, etc. etc. etc. I told her the testimony of a lady that had just recently been totally healed of osteoarthritis and she smiled brightly. I asked her to check her knee and check her pain. She rated her pain at 8 – 10 on a 10 point scale. I was giddy before praying for her because I just KNEW what was going to happen. God was going to TOTALLY deliver her of all her stuff and we would get to see a miracle!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>
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<br />We prayed a simple prayer and commanded the pain to GO! When we did, the Power of God went out from us and hit her like a flash! She jerked so hard she almost went through the back wall of her trailer. I had to totally support her weight with my arms to keep her from crashing into a drawer behind her. She said, “OH MY GOD!” and started freaking out. Tears ran down her face as she was getting blasted by God. She immediately started saying, “I can’t believe this, I can’t believe this!” We told her yes she can believe it. She was trying to compose herself and I asked her where her pain went. She started to check it, bending over and moving all around, something that she couldn’t do only moments before. She was touching her toes! We had her check her arthritic knee and it popped! When she showed us her knee, it had straightened out! We had her walk in her house and she dropped the cane and walked perfectly normal!!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>
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<br />She told us, “Well, one leg USED TO BE shorter than the other!” God LENGTHENED HER LEG without us even praying! She walked up and down her hallways with tears streaming down her face, in total shock. Jesus healed her of arthritis in her knee, the effects of surgery in her right knee, osteoarthritis throughout her entire body, a short leg and I believe her diabetes!!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">
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<br />Come on Jesus!</span>
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-50397666302909667802009-06-19T10:04:00.002-04:002009-06-19T10:09:47.983-04:00Multiple Miracles!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Several weeks ago I went with a Pastor from Kentucky to Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta. The Pastor was here because he had heard some stories through Sid Roth’s TV program and My Dad’s appearance on there. He had also read my Dad’s book and wanted to see it for himself. That day, our goal was to see the Kingdom of God come with power and destroy the work of the enemy.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Mission accomplished.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />RIGHT FOOT, RED FOOT, BLUE FOOT</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />We got to the Hospital and just hung out for a few minutes, asking the Holy Spirit what He was doing. I was with another brother who immediately took off after a young lady that was totally demon possessed! (She ended up getting delivered of her demons!) He went after her and I just sat down on a bench where lots of folks were hanging out. A young man came walking out of the hospital on crutches, strongly favoring his right foot, which had seen better days. It was totally mangled and you could barely call it a foot. It was bruised, broken, bloody and poorly wrapped in a bandage. With great care he made his way over to the bench and then sat down with a thud, unable to put any weight on it. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I was sitting next to him and asked him what happened to his foot. He said that he was in a car with his girlfriend, coming home from a party, late at night. They got into a terrible car accident and his foot and ankle were crushed. His girlfriend was in much worse shape and when the paramedics showed up, they sent her by helicopter to another hospital. He was taken to a hospital where he was quickly bandaged up and the wound was cleaned. When they were treating him, he kept asking about his girlfriend and they wouldn’t tell him her condition because of privacy laws (they weren’t married). So before they could set the broken bones he jumped up and walked out of the hospital, still bleeding mind you, to go find out what happened to his girlfriend. She wasn’t doing very well and needed several surgeries, but was now recovering at Grady Hospital.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Fast forward to today. It had been 6 days since this all had taken place and now we were in front of the Hospital where he had been visiting his girlfriend and also had seen a doctor. They told him that he had to come in and have the bones re-broken so they could set them, since it had been more than 72 hours since the injury. So here he was, in pain, visiting his girlfriend who was in pain and about to have his foot and ankle re-broken. He was having a bad day.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I told him why I was talking to him in the first place. I told him that I noticed his crutches as he walked up and that I wanted them. He looked at me like I was crazy. I told him that I had several pairs of them hanging on the walls of our church and that I knew the perfect place for his! Again, he looked at me like was totally NUTS! I told him, “Let me explain”. While I was speaking to him, this huge man came walking by very slowly, in obvious pain and sat down next to me on the bench. Now there were three of us on the bench. I then told him about the Kingdom of God and the effect it has when it comes on people like him, who have injuries and need crutches. What brought it home is when I explained to him “On earth as it is in Heaven”.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />The big guy next to us was watching and listening intently now as I asked if I could pray for the guy’s mangled foot and ankle. He was like, “Sure, go for it!” But before I would pray I had him stand up and try to put weight on the foot and rate his pain. Every ounce of pressure on the foot brought intense pain. Just standing there on his crutches he was in intense pain. His pain was a 9 or 10. So we prayed. I don’t know what it is, but over the years we have developed a real breakthrough in pain and especially broken bones. I knew exactly what was going to happen. I was so confident that I directed my Pastor buddy from Kentucky to watch his face. I told the pain to “GO!” And it left!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />The look on this guy’s face with the busted foot was a million dollar look. His eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped. I said, “Where’d the pain go?” He was dumbstruck. He literally couldn’t communicate. I could tell that he had absolutely NO grid for what had just occurred. It was awesome. We had him check the foot, put weight on it and then put ALL his weight on it. He had NO PAIN!!!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />HEALING LEADS TO HEALING</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The big guy sitting next to us was obviously affected. I could see a tear in his eye and I asked him, “Are you seeing this?!” He said, “Of course!” I said, “This is REAL, you know!” He fired right back, “I know, I know!” I asked him what was wrong with him and he said something about his leg. He had a long standing injury and lots of pain. He had plates and screws in his shin, limited mobility and some pain. I told him that God is no respecter or persons and what He would do for one, He would do for another! He let us pray for his leg and the pain left! He had tears coming down his face and I asked him if there was anything else as he was still moving pretty slowly. He called me close and explained to me where his REAL pain came from.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />19 years ago he had an injury where he crushed one of his vertebrae. The doctors had done EVERYTHING they could do and for 19 years he had been in excruciating, blinding pain. 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The only relief came from serious drugs (Opiates) and after so many years of using them, he was hooked. He said that his normal pain level is a 10 and the drugs would take it to an 8. He was actually at the hospital to pick up his prescription. He had taken the drugs a little while before and was at an 8. I told him that God could take care of this and he weakly smiled, scared to believe, even for a minute or two. Before he could think about it, I had him do something that caused him pain. He was walking like a mummy, very stiffly and not bending his back at all! I had him try to bend front to back and back to front and he could barely move either way. I had him try to bend side to side and he could hardly move at all. Then I told him, “Watch this!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I put my hands on his back, commanded the pain to go and the vertebrae to be healed in Jesus name. We commanded the Kingdom to come to his body. When I told the pain to “GO”, I felt the presence of God surge out of me into his back. I knew he was healed. So I asked him the same question I asked the other guy, “Where’d the pain go?”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />He started to check it, the tears ran down his face and he said, “It’s gone!” I had him bending side to side and front to back, all without pain! </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">He even missed his bus while talking to us. I started to apologize but he stopped me saying, “I’ll get another bus, this was WORTH IT!”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">19 Years of the devil’s work destroyed!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-49565638799424153392009-06-12T10:48:00.001-04:002009-06-12T10:49:59.876-04:00Stopping for “The One”<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: georgia;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRYANT%7E1.LAW%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:p style="font-family: georgia;"></o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Over and over I have heard Heidi Baker speak and write about stopping for “the one”. She uses the parable that Jesus told of leaving the 99 “found” sheep for the one that was lost. It really does show the heart of God when you bypass the crowds to go to that one special person that is on the heart of God. Over the years we have seen this play out as we go out, seeking to bring the love and power of God to our community. There will be nights when it seems like the Lord is drawing us to that one person and seemingly past other people. Just a couple weeks ago we had such a powerful experience where we searched a large apartment complex for “the one” and we found her!</span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>TROUBLE SHOOTING</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />One of our teams had been referred to a large neighborhood several weeks before. They had been plugging away at this particular complex for several weeks without a lot of outward fruit. They had been praying for the sick and prophesying over everyone that moved but hadn’t really seen a breakthrough. The hunger for discipleship seemed quite low. That night I decided to go with them and check the place out, wondering to myself if perhaps we needed to just pull up stakes and move on. I mean, Jesus told us in Matthew that if it didn’t work when we preached to go somewhere else!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>So Betty and I went with them. We got to the neighborhood and it seemed like a pretty decent place. Everyone seemed happy; lots of people were out and about. It’s a strange neighborhood in that it’s in the middle of nowhere, totally hidden from public view. The complex consists of several very large apartment units that are “stepped” throughout a large neighborhood of large rolling hills. The front of the apartments is a complicated mess of balconies, stairways and hallways. Very few people were actually out in the parking lot, they were all sitting on their porches and balconies with a bird’s eye view of the neighborhood. When we got there everyone was looking at the 6 of us, all white, some young, some middle aged and so on.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
<br />
<br /></o:p>As soon as we got there I felt a leading from the Lord to just hang back and watch. The kids went out ahead of us, found folks and began to prophesy and preach the Gospel. I watched the reactions of the crowd and still didn’t feel lead to jump in. So we sat and waited. Betty was ready to go and preach, but hung out with me as I told her to just sit tight. We were there much longer than I would normally sit doing nothing; after all, we were there to preach! However, I had an unusual compulsion to wait on the Lord, even though that’s what we do throughout the week and before we go on outreach.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>After some time of just sitting there I asked Betty to walk with me. I wanted to see the entire neighborhood and felt that somewhere in the labyrinth of apartments and balconies there was some “one” that needed the Lord here tonight. So we walked… and walked! The place was huge! We passed building after building, group of people after group of people going up and down several hills, all the while looking out for an open door. People stared, wondering why we were there, but didn’t do more than the occasional smile. We made our way to the back of the complex and came upon the last apartment building. We passed a small group of 5-6 people; they were all drinking and from the sound of it had been at it a while. But one of the guys in the group called out to me and said something in his drunken haze, I can’t remember. What I did know was that was my open door. I turned on my heels and went over to them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br />
<br /></o:p>THE ONE</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />The group was rowdy and not making a lot of sense. They were talking about some basketball game and slamming Vodka like there was no tomorrow. We made a little small talk, told them of the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place> and asked if anyone was sick. Several left the group and several others clammed up, some trying to hide their drinks, suddenly uncomfortable. I told them to not let their beer go warm on account of me! We did what we do and honestly, they just weren’t paying attention. I was silently asking the Lord for Prophetic Words to blow them away, but nothing was coming. I looked at Betty, wondering if maybe she had something and she shrugged her shoulders, telling me without words, “I’ve got nothing”. I was just about to walk away and leave them alone when a young lady, sitting on a staircase about 20 feet behind them squeaked out “You can pray for me.” She was probably only 19-20 years old, beautiful, but obviously troubled. I saw right away that she had wrap on her wrist and asked her what was going on with her wrist. Her head hung low and she told us she hurt it. I asker her how and she didn’t want to give up all the details.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>We went over to her, sat down on the stairs with her and asked her what was up. Again, I was asking the Lord for some great prophetic word, but was getting nothing. So we listened and asked her what she needed prayer for. Tearfully, over the next half hour she told us about losing her daughter, losing her home, losing everything really. All of this was because she had a serious anger problem. We knew it was a demon. In her rage, she had hurt other people, going to jail and losing her daughter. In her rage she had punched holes in walls and recently, through a window. She unwrapped the bandages on her wrist and showed us some terrible cuts that needed immediate medical attention. She had done this the night before when she flew into a rage. I was thinking, “This little thing is capable of such amazing anger, rage and violence… wow!”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>We didn’t have prophetic words, we didn’t have anything flashy. All that we had was compassion and a listening ear. After her testimony of the horrors of what the demon had worked on her life, we simply told her the truth. We told her that we ranged over her entire complex looking for her. We told her of a God that would single her out among everyone in her neighborhood to bring her life, hope and deliverance. Tears ran down her face as we told her that Jesus could set her free of this anger. We plainly told her of the horrible consequences of her sin, but the power of God to deliver her from her bondage. Without any convincing, without any hype and strangely for us, without even a demonstration of God’s power she gladly repented, turned from her life of sin and asked Jesus to forgive her and set her free of anger. As we prayed, the glory of God hit us all as she tangibly felt the anger leave her body.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
<br />
<br /></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">She eagerly gave her life to Jesus on the steps of the apartment. Why? Because the Lord had us bypass the crowds and stop for her, the one.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div>
<br /> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-68183303639330078022009-05-19T15:59:00.001-04:002009-05-19T16:07:14.555-04:00Good In The Hood!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2XYsaF_Wrw" target="_blank">This song by Tye Tribbett</a> has now been named my unofficial theme song for our Urban Outreaches into the tougher parts of Metro Atlanta. It just seems like the Kingdom breaks out in an awesome way in the poorer “hood” areas. It seems like every time we go out there, people respond to the message of the Kingdom. There are healings, lives are changed through prophetic words and people are impacted greatly.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />IT’S SNOWING IN THE HOOD!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />One of my favorite things that I personally love about being in the hood is being white. Yeah, I said it. People don’t know what to think when some crazy white dude goes rolling around the hood talking to people. To make it better, I normally am not alone and regularly have several folks with me. This makes quite the scene in most neighborhoods we go to and actually helps us get our foot in the door.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Case in point:</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />A couple of weeks ago we head into a new neighborhood in a real rough area of town. Folks are out, it’s getting warmer and everyone is out having a good time. Lots of folks are getting drunk and there’s quite a “ruckus” going on. Enter stage left. I and several other VERY white people come marching into this situation and there is a group of ladies standing to our left. Their tongues nearly fall out of their mouth and their eyes are huge looking at us and wondering what in the heck we were doing there! I look at one of the main ladies and am standing probably only 15-20 feet away from her. I look at her, see her staring at me and say to her, “I can see you, you know”. She quickly checks herself and realizes that she has been staring, covers her mouth and is obviously embarrassed. I tell her, “It’s ok; I would wonder why this crazy group of white folks is here in my neighborhood too!” The whole group of ladies starts saying that they didn’t say that and I tell them, “You don’t have to say it with your mouth; you’re saying it with your expression!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />So now they are all ears wondering, “Why are these people in the neighborhood?” I tell them that we know Jesus and His Kingdom is on the earth. I tell them that we pray for sick people and God heals them! I ask them if any of them are sick and they say that they are doing fine. We chat a little and one of the ladies in our group gets some prophetic stuff for one of the young ladies. It’s right on! We have their attention and they tell us that we need to pray for a lady several doors down. At the moment they send us to her door, a lady looking very haggard comes to the door, in obvious pain. We start talking to this lady and find out that he has several conditions, but the one giving her the most trouble is congestive heart failure. One of the symptoms is difficulty breathing. We prayed for her and we ALL felt the power of God. She immediately began to breathe totally normally and felt filled with strength! She could hardly believe it and walked up the stairs to her apartment without any difficulty breathing! Come on Jesus!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />WE SCARED THE “HELL” OUT OF THEM!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />There was a large, angry group of people on the other side of the street fighting with each other, cursing, yelling and just getting rowdy. I looked at the group and asked the Lord to give me something for one of them. My attention was immediately drawn to a young man sitting in the center. This guy looked like bad news! He looked angry and was definitely giving off the vibe, “STAY AWAY!” As I looked at him, he looked to me like a wolf. Knowing that the lord sometimes uses simple impressions like that, I asked the Lord if He was trying to tell me something. I simply heard in my spirit a reversal of the scripture about wolves and sheep, “This man is a sheep in wolves clothing”. I knew that the Lord was giving me something for him, so I crossed the street towards the group and the young man. As I did, several people scattered, but this guy stayed put. I just walked up to him and told him, “Sometimes God shows me things for people and I believe that He is showing me something for you… Do you mind if I tell you what I see?” he shrugged and said, “sure”.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I started by telling him that the Kingdom of Heaven is right in front of him and that he simply needed to change the way he thinks to see it! Then I began to explain the word I saw for him. I told him that he was a sheep in wolves clothing and that he gives the impression off to many people that he is rough and ruthless, like a wolf. But God knows that he is tender and soft, like a sheep underneath all of that exterior stuff he puts up. He looked up at me like I had just punched him in the stomach! Two young ladies sitting next to him went, “Oh my God!” and started walking away. I was like, “What’s going on? Am I not telling the truth??” They told me that only they would know that and how did I know that? I went on to tell him that God was calling him to live a life without compromise and that he could live for the Lord and never have to pretend anymore. As I spoke to him about his hypocrisy, he broke out in this huge sweat, out of nowhere. It was barely 70 degrees with a breeze out, so there was no natural reason for him to sweat. He swallowed hard, looked up at me and said simply, “You nailed me with that one. Look at me sweating like this, what’s up with that?!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I told him that he was feeling the power of God and that God was ringing his bell and had his number. I strongly preached the Gospel to him, calling him to repentance and he heard every word. He got up and said he needed to be alone, walking inside the house. I’ll call him a “Pre-Christian”.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br />THE LIONESS</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The Lord began to show me a simple prophetic picture for her one of the young ladies that was standing by the thug whose mail we just read. When I looked at her, I was simply reminded of a lioness, or female lion. As a lady on our team began to speak to her I was quietly asking the Lord what that meant. The Lord reminded me of how the picture we always see of a lion is of the male and that they are the ones people take pictures of and celebrate. But that in nature, it is the female lioness that did the bulk of the work, taking care of the pride and even doing the hunting for the male lions. The Lord gave me a very simple word for her that her “man” got all the attention and credit when in fact she was the one doing all the work, holding the family together.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I started by telling her that when I looked at her she reminded me of a lioness. When I said that her jaw dropped open, her eyes filled with tears and she started shivering and quivering all over. I knew I was on track so I finished giving her the Word. She was VERY obviously shaken and impacted by what I said, but I still didn’t understand why. I asked her what was up and she told me that lions are very significant to her and she had even named her son “Leo”. In short, God was talking her language! The rest of the word for her described her home life EXACTLY. She was absolutely undone and scared out of her mind. We call these “face plant conversions” like we see in I Corinthians 14:25.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">She and her sister both gave their lives to the Lord standing on that curb, directly as a result of the Lord revealing the secrets of their hearts! We have kept up with her and she has invited us into her home to have a Bible Study and to grow in the things of God. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Look out, more good from the hood to come!</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-6960349270336335782009-05-12T16:50:00.002-04:002009-05-12T16:53:47.768-04:00"Presence" Evangelism<div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: georgia;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRYANT%7E1.LAW%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>We’ve been experiencing a new phenomenon of sorts. There has been a marked increase in the number of people that have recently approached us for all manner of healing, deliverance and ministry. Over and over again we’ve been hearing, “There’s just something about you” or “There’s something in your eyes!” The list goes on and on. This is a novelty to us because for years we have been the ones approaching people for ministry, not the other way around!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>DELIVERANCE FOR BREAKFAST!</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />I have a friend that I workout with several times each week. We get to the gym around the same time, workout and regularly meet up for coffee at the local Starbucks afterwards. The other day ago I had jumped on the treadmill, plugged in my iPod and was walking furiously away to a series on healing and the miraculous that I had downloaded on the internet. I had only been on there 10 minutes or so when a lady we had seen at the gym before got on the treadmill next to me. She said hi and started making small talk. I had to stop the recording I was listening to her to politely respond. No sooner had, “Hi, how are you” come out of my mouth than she started to unload her life story on me! She got very detailed and started weeping and shaking, explaining to me how she has been getting ill as a result of panic attacks. She described how a chill would run up her leg and then she would start to hyperventilate, going into a full blown anxiety attack. Her sleep had been disturbed and her life had been turned inside out lately as financial fear and life stuff had caught up with her in the form of these panic attacks.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>She began to tell me about how she had been praying and asking God to help, but God really hadn’t come through for her yet. She then realized that she was unloading on me and apologized saying, “I’m sorry I don’t even know if you are religious… Are you religious? I replied, telling her, “I really try not to be!” She seemed surprised by my answer and I told her, “I know what you mean though. Yes, I know the Lord.” As she went on describing her situation and the symptoms she had been experiencing I quietly told her, “These panic attacks are not merely physical and psychological, they are an attack from the devil and a demon. You don’t need counseling, you need deliverance!” She looked at me and said in a whimper, “Can you help me?” I said, “Sure! We’ll get you delivered, right after the workout!” The entire time we were talking we were walking briskly. I decided that the thing to do would be to wait for my workout buddy from church and then we would pray for her and get her delivered out in front of the gym.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>I went back into the locker room and got my buddy, telling him “There’s a lady out here that has a devil, we need to get it off her. Can you help me come and pray?” He said sure and we walked out of the locker room together.<span style=""> </span>We took our new needy friend out in front of the gym and explained to her the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place>, telling her that this thing was a demon and we’re going to get rid of it! Before we prayed, we prophesied to her that this was the last panic attack she would have and would be a different person after we prayed. So right there in front of Gold’s Gym we prayed for her, casting out this demonic attack of anxiety and fear. As we broke its power and commanded it to come out, she became limp and literally fell into our arms. We had to hold her up to keep her from going down! The presence of God very obviously came on her and she smiled with a big grin!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>We invited her to a church service the next day and while there she received more ministry., Since that time she has caught up with me at the gym, letting me know that since we initially prayed she has been delivered, been sleeping well and hasn’t had a panic attack since!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>THERE’S SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES!</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />Some friends and I were at a local hospital where we regularly pray for the sick. While there we just walked by a group of ladies and they reached out and grabbed me by the arm. They said, “There’s something in your eyes!” I said, “You’re right, there is something in my eyes. Do you want to know what it is?” They said, “Please, tell us, I feel like you have something for me!” After getting over the initial shock that they were approaching me I told them that what they were seeing was God’s Spirit inside of me! I explained that I am filled with God’s Spirit and if they wanted it, they could have Him in them too! I told them that when He comes to them, He comes to rule and reign and when He comes, He comes to destroy sickness and disease. I asked them if they had any diseases and sure enough they did. One lady had an issue of blood for the last 30 days and the other lady had diabetes and high blood pressure. We just reached out, touched them and God’s presence just came all over us all! One lady began to cry and was like, “What is that?!” I told her that it was God’s Spirit coming on her physical body. We couldn’t check their symptoms immediately but they promised that when they found themselves healed they would glorify God.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>There was one girl sitting on the bench with them that wouldn’t let us pray the first time. But after she saw the other ladies have an encounter with God she became curious and let us pray for her. No sooner had I touched her than she began to swoon in her seat, start to cry and exclaim, “I can feel it, I can feel it!” God’s presence just washed over all of us right there and we had us a little worship service, praising God for touching all of us with His manifest presence!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>
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<br />YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AURA!</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br />My buddy and I swung by a local Starbucks after our workout, and ran into an eclectic group of kids. One of the guys was wearing big bell bottomed pants with an open shirt and was sporting quite the Mohawk. The young lady that was hanging all over him was wearing a string bikini top, torn jeans, was barefoot and half naked. The other young man looked like he was just along for the ride. In the line waiting for coffee the two crazy looking kids started making out passionately. Ick. I stood right behind them and started making kissy face noises, voicing my displeasure. Ha-ha. Real mature, I know.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>Out in front of the store, they were getting in there car and looked over our way. I waved at them saying, “Bye, little hippies!” They started walking over to us and the young lady with them was kind of lurching, acting real weird and was saying, “Something tells me that we need to meet you!” I quickly responded, “You do!” She then began to tell us that they could see something in our eyes and I quote, “You have this big, beautiful aura!” I said, “I know!” They sat down with us outside the Starbucks and began to just talk to us, asking questions I know were designed to illicit a judgmental response. They asked questions about politics, the legalization of marijuana, etc. When we didn’t react, they were intrigued. I just sat there, asking the Lord for something for them prophetically. After a few minutes, the Lord gave me a word for the young man who looked out of place. When I started to share it, all three of them freaked out, two of them jumped up and were saying, “This is too wild, I know we were supposed to meet you!” The word the Lord gave me was right on and they started asking, “How did you know that?” I was able to explain to them about how the God of the Bible knows everything about everyone and from time to time will show us something to prove that He is real and He is interested in and loves them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p>The word of knowledge opened the door and we walked though it, spending a while explaining the Kingdom to them. They didn’t give their lives to the Lord but happily heard it, we exchanged numbers and have now made some new friends.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Let’s call them “Pre-Christians”!</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p>
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<br /></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-39836256570557066872009-05-04T13:28:00.001-04:002009-05-04T13:30:28.948-04:00UMT Weekend Report<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">A few weeks ago, we hosted another UMT or Urban Missionary Training Weekend here at the church. It’s a weekend training module that we have developed to get folks from being totally “green” at doing the stuff and bringing the Kingdom to walking in the power of the Kingdom, quick! We have some teaching and foundational theology that we preach and teach, followed immediately by the actual “doing” of the work. Folks from all over the country flew and drove in to be a part of the training and outreach and as usual, God showed up.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />MY TEAM</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our team had the privilege of having a cameraman with us to document the miracles and ultimately to produce a video documentary of the power of the Kingdom being demonstrated on the street. I’m excited about the project and there will be more to come on that in future updates. But the good thing is that every testimony I’m telling here that happened with our team can be documented, on video. I have a saying around here that says, “The truth can hold up under intense scrutiny!”</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">One of the first folks we talked to was a gentleman who was grilling outside of his apartment. When I first looked at him, the Lord gave me a word that I have had before. When I looked at him I had a gentle vision of a spider web. It’s a picture that the Lord has given me before to describe someone that’s trapped in a situation/circumstance where they feel that they can’t get out of. So I walked up to the guy and told him, “Hey, sometimes the Lord shows me things for people and I believe that He was showing me something for you.” He indicated that he wouldn’t mind hearing what I had to say so I started to explain to him what I had seen. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">As I spoke with the little understanding that I had, the Lord gave me more. I saw specifically that he was actually involved in the drug culture and that he had a desire to do right, but circumstances left him feeling trapped in a lifestyle of sin and compromise. The Lord also showed me that he had a “Nathaniel” type personality like Jesus recognized, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false”. The Holy Spirit was showing me that he had a love for truth and despised hypocrisy in all its forms. The Lord also gave me some direction about his current girlfriend and that he needed to marry her and “do the right thing”. It was pretty confrontational and direct. His mouth dropped open and he started nodding in the affirmative. He then told us that he had come outside to clear his head and was just praying, “What do I do?” Immediately after that, we walked up and explained his situation in detail. The “What to do” was turn to Jesus, renounce his lifestyle of compromise and ask the Lord to deliver him.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Right there in front of his now smoldering grill he gave his life to the Lord, asking God to rescue him from the foolishness of his actions. It was real, it was authentic and a true conversion. He was repentant and honest, asking the Lord to please rescue him. It was awesome!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">HANDICAPPED SIGN & WONDERS</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our little band walked through the apartment complex looking for an opportunity to demonstrate the Kingdom. We had to step out of the street as a car full of people passed, but what got my attention was the handicapped parking sticker hanging from the rear view mirror. I told our little team, “Target Acquired!” From experience, I know that a handicapped sticker most certainly means an opportunity for God to destroy the work of the devil! We waited for the car to park and walked over to the folks as they were getting out of the car. I asked them, “Who is handicapped and needs the sticker?” They pointed to a lady sitting in the front passenger side of the vehicle. She looked sickly and emaciated and asked us why we were asking. We walked around to her side of the car as she tried in vain to get out of the vehicle. She was obviously too weak to even stand up on her own. I knelt down and explained to her that we look for folks that are sick and needing healing so that we can pray for them and demonstrate the power of the Gospel. I looked her in the eye and told her that it was a great day for her and her family! She looked at me like I was crazy!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">I explained to her that God’s will is that His Kingdom would come and His will would be done ON EARTH as it IS in Heaven! We came to find out that she needed everything! She had asthma, bronchitis, a high fever, was recovering from cancer treatment and the cancer was in remission. She also had several other symptoms, was in extreme pain in her abdomen and very weak. We asked her if we could pray, “On earth as it is in Heaven” and she agreed. I had her check on camera her physical limitations. She was very short of breath and wheezing and she was completely exhausted, running a high fever. We started to pray for her and the presence of God overshadowed us. It was obvious to me that the Lord was touching her physical body and I asked her what she felt. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the first check her wheeze and shortness of breath were both gone. On the second check the pain in her abdomen was gone. In just a few minutes strength had come back to her and I asked her if we could take a walk. Without a problem she stood up from the car and began to walk with me as I held her arm. Her apartment was up a flight of stairs and normally she would have to stop 3-4 times on her way up. She walked up with me without taking one rest and sat down in her apartment without pain! Oh yeah and the fever broke as well! By this time her family was gathered around and I was able to explain to them that the Kingdom of God had come near to them! Grandma was initially planning on going straight to bed but with her newfound strength she got up and began to cook for the entire family!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">MS HEALED!</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Another team in a community just a couple of miles from where we were at encountered a young lady that was walking like a mummy, in obvious pain. They asked her what was wrong and discovered that she had Multiple Sclerosis, just having returned from the hospital in severe pain and experiencing an extreme lack of mobility. They prayed for her, commanding the MS to leave her body and the Kingdom to invade! Right away, the pain left her body and she began to move and do things that seconds before were impossible! The team watched as the lady excitedly began to run up and down the stairs with perfect mobility and NO PAIN! </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">One week later the young lady attended a service that we were conducting in the Jonesboro area and testified personally to the mighty healing and deliverance that she had just experienced, still PAIN FREE and in perfect health! </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Come on Jesus!</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-43242472233660735122009-02-02T10:22:00.001-05:002009-02-02T10:24:53.169-05:00As You Go… Home!<div style="text-align: justify;"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRYANT%7E1.LAW%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>The other day ago I was on my way home from work. Just about a ½ mile from my house I spotted a woman at a 4 way stop. She was older looking and the look on her face was simply “bewildered”. She looked confused and upset, almost acting like she was unsure about crossing the street. I motioned her across the street, assuring her that I would let her go if she wanted. But she just looked at me. I rolled down the window and asked her, “Are You Ok?” She started babbling something about going to the pawn shop for grocery money or something and I could barely understand what she was talking about. As she was talking, tears started to run down her face and she was very obviously upset. I asked her if she needed a ride and she didn’t respond. I just opened my door and said, “Get in”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>So she gets into the car and I settle her down telling her that it’s going to be ok. I asked her, “Where are you going?” She just whispered, “Home”. I asker her, “Ok, where is home?” “That way” she pointed down the street. I said, “All right, I’m going to take you home, just tell me what’s going on, you look upset”. After she took a couple of deep breaths and started to calm down she explained that she had just walked a couple of miles from her home to pawn a bracelet and a necklace to buy grocery money. She told me that her social security check was late and she was out of grocery money. More than that, she was in severe pain as she had osteoarthritis and shouldn’t even be walking. Apparently, her doctor had suggested that she should use one of those motorized wheelchairs to get around in as she wasn’t fit to walk more than a few feet. I asked her if there was anything else bothering her and she told me, “Well, I have colon cancer”. It was quite advanced and she was experiencing some terrible symptoms and in constant pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>We’re driving to her house, only a few miles from where I live. I start by telling her, “Honey, today is a good day for you!” I can’t help but smile and she is looking at me like I’m crazy! She can’t understand why I could smile in the face of her many terrible diseases and circumstances. But I know something she doesn’t! The Kingdom is here, at hand, in the car with both of us. The King is here! I said, “There couldn’t have been a better person in the world to stop and give you a ride home!” She says, “Ok…” so I told her, “let me explain”. I tell her, “I’m a believer and...” She interrupts me saying, “Oh, I’m a Christian, I go to church whenever I can, but without a car it’s pretty difficult…” I jump in and say, “Hold on now, and let me finish my sentence.” She sits quietly in the seat and hushes up for a second.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I continue, “I’m a believer and this is a great day for you! It’s a great day because I am the answer to your problems!” Now she’s sure I’m nuts. So I said, “Listen, God is with me and He’s here to take care of your problems.” She just smiled politely. At this point, we’re driving up the driveway of her run down home in a run down neighborhood. She tries to get out of the car, saying “Thank You” and I stopped her. I told her, “Listen; there is a cost for your ride home.” She looks at me in shock and starts telling me, “I have no money; I don’t know how I’ll pay you…” I said, “No, not money, the cost of the ride is that you allow me to pray for you!” She lets out a huge sigh of relief and says, “Ok”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>So I start interviewing her, asking her what the symptoms are of her Osteoarthritis. I have her check to see her mobility and ask her what her pain level is, “0 is absolutely pain free and 1 is excruciating pain, where are you?” Without hesitating, she says, “A 10!” She reminds me that she shouldn’t be walking, yet today alone, she’s walked several miles to the pawn shop. “So, standing her right now you are in blinding, excruciating pain?” “Yes!” she says. I take 1 minute to explain to her the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Heaven</st1:placename></st1:place> being at hand. I tell her that in Heaven there is no colon cancer or osteoarthritis and that Jesus told us to pray that His Kingdom would come and His will be done. If that Kingdom is done in her body, all pain will go!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>I look her dead in the eyes and say, “Watch this!” I reach out my hands and grab hers and I firmly say, “In the name of Jesus I command all pain to go! Heaven come into this body!” I literally feel the power of God shoot out of me into her and she jumps back with eyes wide open! The look on her face was absolutely priceless! She screams, “What did you do!!?” I start laughing and ask her, “What just happened?” She said, “I felt a surge go through me!” I said, “Where’d the pain go?” She started to examine herself and look for the pain and said “It’s gone!” I replied, “Really? Then if you have no pain, check yourself, what can you do?” She started to do stuff that she could not do just a couple minutes before, back bands, moving her neck, reaching down to touch her toes, etc. She just started weeping and couldn’t speak, so I asked her again, “Where’d the pain go?” She said, “All the pain left when the goose bumps came!” (You can’t make this stuff up!) I told her, “Jesus just healed you; His Kingdom came into your body!” She started thanking the Lord and then quickly said, “Do it again!” I prayed for her a couple more times and each time she got hit by the Presence of God harder and harder! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I emptied my wallet and gave her what money I had. By the time I left, her financial needs were met, her physical needs were met and she was as happy as she could be! The </span><st1:place style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></o:p></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> had come near her!</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-33587959496921070502009-01-09T10:41:00.003-05:002009-01-09T14:46:20.091-05:00Passing It On<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="font-family: georgia;" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"></o:smarttagtype></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Several years ago, we were “pregnant” with a vision to see the people of God walking in the power of God. We had prophecies, promises and scripture to back up our belief, but very little experience of what we believed. Then, Bill Johnson came to our church for one night and told story after story about how people in their church were walking in the power of the Kingdom. What it did was give us “permission” to do what we knew we could do in our hearts. Almost overnight, testimonies started coming in and have consistently been rolling in for 6 years now. This has been the most exciting and glorious few years of our personal lives and corporate ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>One of our main callings as a church and ministry and one of the passions of my life is to “pass it on", training and equipping the people of God to walk in the power of God. It’s a blast to be used by the Holy Ghost, but WAY more fulfilling to see others pick up the torch and go for it! <span style=""> </span>Well, just last month, my Dad was on Sid Roth’s Television show, “It’s Supernatural” to be interviewed. This show goes all over the world and Sid has a pretty good international audience, so it’s good exposure for our message. About a year ago his book “It’s the End of the Church As We Know It” was released and they read the book and wanted him on. He went on and told several stories of people being healed in public places.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Since the interview, our website has been getting hammered and we have been receiving a steady stream of emails from folks literally all over the world. Many of the requests are for prayer for healing and we have sent out 100+ anointed hankies (Acts <st1:time minute="11" hour="19">19:11</st1:time>-12). But some of the requests have been from folks for additional materials and instructions teaching them how to get out there and “do the stuff”! Very exciting! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>One of the emails is from a gentleman named Todd. From the interview on Sid Roth, to the books and materials we sent him, Todd got “permission” to just get out there and “do” what was in his heart to do. Listed here are a few testimonies of what he has seen only in the last couple of weeks!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>**************************************<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sent in from Todd:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>MIRACULOUS HEAD TRAUMA RECOVERY<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A 10 or 11 year old boy had an ATV accident on <st1:date year="2008" day="27" month="12">December 27, 2008</st1:date> and his injuries included a fractured skull, damaged brain stem, fractured neck, and fractured back. Doctors had to pick skull fragments out of his brain and told his family that brain stem injuries are inoperable and that they expected definite brain damage if he even survived for 72 hours. We went to the hospital and prayed over him the following Monday. Long story short, less than two weeks later he is breathing on his own, alert, walking, talking, eating and going through physical therapy. They will take his neck brace off in a few days, because there is no more evidence of a neck or spinal fracture, and they plan on sending him home on February 2. The hospital staff is amazed and said they have never seen such a severe head trauma case recover so quickly.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>NO MORE CRUTCHES<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">While I was waiting to pray for that kid I came up behind a lady in her late fifties on crutches in the hospital lobby who was in obvious pain and moving at a crawl speed. Being the great man of faith I am, I said “God if you have her step into a waiting area I’ll know this is you and I’ll pray for her.” She hobbled right past the waiting area. Since that didn’t work I scraped up my boldness and asked her what was wrong and if I could pray for her. She said arthritis had been causing so much pain for the past 18 months she had to use crutches, which messed up her back too. So in the main entrance of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (it couldn’t be somewhere discreet) I put my hands on her knees, declared Jesus is King over arthritis commanded things to come back into order. She walked around and said her right knee felt great but the left one still hurt. When I prayed for the left knee something in her leg snapped and startled both of us. After praying three or four times the pain in her back and knees went away and she walked off without crutches.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>TWO HEALED IN A GROCERY STORE<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I decided I would stop by a Kroger grocery store on the way home from work one day to pray for some folks, and when I asked God what he wanted to do I saw a lady in an electric scooter. So I tracked down the first person I saw in a scooter and asked her what caused her to need the scooter. Diane told me she had severe pain that shot up her leg when she walked. After a couple brief prayers the pain was gone from her knees and she could walk much better. Then I noticed another lady in scooter twenty feet away, so I asked Diane to go tell her what God just did to her. (Figured she should get right to work in the Kingdom) This lady proceeded to tell me how she was driving a semi truck ten years ago and was hit by a train, thrown hundreds of feet, resulting in constant pain since then, which prevented her from working. The first time I prayed she said her neck felt a little better. After I prayed the second time, putting my finger on her lower back, she looked at me and said “What did you do?” The pain in her neck and back was completely gone, she had full range of motion in her neck and could stand without any pain for the first time since accident TEN YEARS AGO. She said the pain went from an 8 to zero on a scale of 1-10.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>DEAF EARS OPENED IN THE PARKING LOT<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The next day I went back to the same Kroger (which we have now declared property of the <st1:place><st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>God</st1:placename></st1:place>) and took along my buddy Scott who wants to move in this kind of stuff. I told him God showed me someone with a walking cane and someone with hearing aids, so, a little nervous, we went looking for them. We prayed for a lady in an electric scooter who had arthritis, broken ankle, knee replacement, and after several rounds of praying she experienced a measure of relief in her neck and back. She said “Both of your hands are really hot.” While she was talking, Scott spotted a guy with a cane, but by the time we were done he got away from us. Next we camped out at both entrances looking for hearing aids. Scott called me and said he saw two people in a car in the parking lot using sign language so we walked up, asked if someone was deaf and found that the driver, Lenny, had been completely deaf since birth. We stuck fingers in his ears, laid hands on him, rebuked deafness, commanded the ears to open, and then asked his wife to see what was different. He signed to her that he could feel the vibrations from my voice, which he never felt before, and that his hearing, which was previously zero, was now a two or three! Very cool.<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">**************************************<o:p></o:p><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here is a word of instruction from Todd:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p style="font-style: italic;">"</o:p><span style="font-style: italic;">I tell people that the secret to moving in healing is this: “There is no secret.” Just do it. When Jesus said “These sign will follow those who believe” he was referring to people who believed those signs will follow them. I have seen equal or even greater success praying for people outside of the church, probably because they don’t have the preconceptions, religiosities and unbelief that plague most Christians."</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>Way to go Todd!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184132.post-83968916105500507682008-12-16T17:25:00.003-05:002008-12-16T17:38:51.371-05:00The Drought Is Over!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sorry for the lack of updates... Don't know what to tell you, I just haven't gotten around to update the site! LOTS has been happening, LOTS more to come too! in our church service this Sunday, half of the meeting was miracle stories! The miracles and healings continue and people are being equipped to walk in the power of God. In fact, one of the things I wanted to do was direct you to some brothers that we work with who are seeing miracles and the Kingdom come with power as they hit the streets of Jonesboro, GA. and Winston Salem, NC.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><b style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://urbanoutreachministries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://urbanoutreachministries.blogspot.com</a></b></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is the blog of some friends of ours in North Carolina, Paul & Renee Erbe. They have been hitting the hood in their areas and seeing some AMAZING miracles. The Blind see, the deaf hear and the poor have the Gospel preached to them! In fact, they are in the process of relocating to the South Side of Atlanta to work with our new church plant down there.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><b style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://jonesboroga.blogspot.com/" target="blank">http://jonesboroga.blogspot.com</a></b></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is the blog of a good friend of mine, David Dixon. David's part of our church and has been leading teams to the south side of Atlanta for the last couple of years. This Sunday, we had our first Sunday service with a church comprised of folks that have been reached through the outreaches in those neighborhoods. Very cool! The miracles and healings that they have been seeing are tremendous. Check it out.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bunch of posts of those two blogs and that should keep you encouraged until I get around to writing up a fresh update with my stories.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Come on Jesus!</span></span><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706999724501042010noreply@blogger.com0