My God is still such an amazing God. Last night in our worship service, a woman came forward for special prayer. Her arm was in a sling and she told my wife she had experienced a torn rotatory cuff in her left shoulder and was in need of surgery. She said she was experiencing "excruciating pain." Deana prayed the prayer of faith and then asked "Is the pain still there." The woman had a surprised look on her face and said, "No, the pain is gone." She then preceded to take off the sling and raise her arms to heaven and praise God. Completely healed, free mobility, free from pain!
One interesting side note is this same woman surrendered her heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ just one week ago.
In the same service a man came forward and surrendered he heart and life to Jesus Christ and we prayed that the addictions he had been battling would be gone.
Our youth pastor sent me a text stating they had two salvation's in their youth service. Three salvation's and one totally healed rotatory cuff! Yep! I'll say He is still a God of wonders!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Super Sunday
With the "Big Game" now fading into distant memory, fans across the United States will go back home and settle into their daily routines.
As I shared this past Sunday, you have to appreciate those "fans."
As I shared this past Sunday, you have to appreciate those "fans."
- They will spend anywhere from $1200.00 up to $6000.00 and more to go watch a football game.
- Their car will have to pay $105.00 to set in the parking lot...! They don't care, they're fans!
- They will stand up the whole game!
- And they will shout and scream the whole game. They refuse to shut up. They refuse to just set down and just be a spectator.
- It doesn't matter about the weather, rain, sleet or, shine, they are there....!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Faith in Action
God has really stirred my heart about this faith journey we are on. I shared with our church last night that Abraham is a great example of how we are to respond to God's direction in our lives. Abraham had faith and it was "counted to him as righteousness."
A couple of key thoughts about faith in action as it relates to Abraham's story is that faith in action takes courage and faith in action requires obedience to God's instruction.
Abraham was being directed to leave his country (his security), his father's household (his support system), and go to a country that God would show him ( surprise! A whole lot of what if's) That took courage and Abraham set out on that journey.
God was putting things in order that Abraham knew nothing of. God was creating a covenant of separation with Abraham and He was establishing a new nation we know today as the Hebrew nation from which the Messiah of the world would come through. God is always working things that we cannot see at the time, but God has a plan for everyone of us.
Abraham's action (stepping out in faith) activated the plan of God. God had a plan, but it would have never been activated had Abraham never taken action.
Faith in action activates the plan of God in our lives.
A couple of key thoughts about faith in action as it relates to Abraham's story is that faith in action takes courage and faith in action requires obedience to God's instruction.
Abraham was being directed to leave his country (his security), his father's household (his support system), and go to a country that God would show him ( surprise! A whole lot of what if's) That took courage and Abraham set out on that journey.
God was putting things in order that Abraham knew nothing of. God was creating a covenant of separation with Abraham and He was establishing a new nation we know today as the Hebrew nation from which the Messiah of the world would come through. God is always working things that we cannot see at the time, but God has a plan for everyone of us.
Abraham's action (stepping out in faith) activated the plan of God. God had a plan, but it would have never been activated had Abraham never taken action.
Faith in action activates the plan of God in our lives.
Friday, January 29, 2010
"Cash or Cred........no I'll use Faith!
Reinhart Bonnke said, "Faith is the currency of heaven!" How true that is. The Hebrew writer said, "Faith is the subtance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen." When we operate in that realm, faith really is the currency we must use. When the poor lady with the issue of blood approached Jesus for healing, all she has was faith, but it was enough to purchase her healing.
Paul said our God calls those things that are not as though they are! I'll use faith please!
Paul said our God calls those things that are not as though they are! I'll use faith please!
Monday, January 11, 2010
30 A.D. Ministry in the 21st Century
I am absolutely convinced that the same methodology the early church used must be employed by the 21st Century church. The Acts 2 model shows they had worship, fellowship, discipleship, serving in ministry, and sending people out. Of course they employed those things through the Holy Spirit and we must do the same.
Yes we should use appropriate technology and current trends should be acknowledged, but Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!"
Yes we should use appropriate technology and current trends should be acknowledged, but Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!"
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Power We Need
I thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit that believers can have in their lives and wow, what a power we have to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Having said that, I like what I read in a recent publication from Tim Enloe called "Divine Order." In the book the idea is introduced that we need the power of the Holy Spirit more today than ever. I don't think anyone would disagree. But the power we need is more than power or ability to speak in tongues....we need the power of the Holy Spirit so we can speak in English.
Is that not profound? We in Pentecostal circles have focused so much on tongues that we missed the important point and that is we can have access to the full power of the Spirit and we need the full power of the Spirit to be effective witnesses for Jesus.
Yes I believe speaking in unlearned languages is still the inital evidence that people have received the Holy Spirit baptism, but that is just the beginning. There is so much more that the Spirit wants to do through a believer and Paul identified gifts of utterances, gifts of power and gifts of revelation that a Holy Spirit baptized believer can uses as the situation demands to the glory of God.
Bottom line .......We need the Holy Spirit baptism so we can know what to say to people in a language they can understand! And the prayer languages of men and of angels is just an added blessing that can help me pray the perfect will of God when I don't know how to pray, or when my English language just isn't enough.
Thank you Jesus for the power we need!
Having said that, I like what I read in a recent publication from Tim Enloe called "Divine Order." In the book the idea is introduced that we need the power of the Holy Spirit more today than ever. I don't think anyone would disagree. But the power we need is more than power or ability to speak in tongues....we need the power of the Holy Spirit so we can speak in English.
Is that not profound? We in Pentecostal circles have focused so much on tongues that we missed the important point and that is we can have access to the full power of the Spirit and we need the full power of the Spirit to be effective witnesses for Jesus.
Yes I believe speaking in unlearned languages is still the inital evidence that people have received the Holy Spirit baptism, but that is just the beginning. There is so much more that the Spirit wants to do through a believer and Paul identified gifts of utterances, gifts of power and gifts of revelation that a Holy Spirit baptized believer can uses as the situation demands to the glory of God.
Bottom line .......We need the Holy Spirit baptism so we can know what to say to people in a language they can understand! And the prayer languages of men and of angels is just an added blessing that can help me pray the perfect will of God when I don't know how to pray, or when my English language just isn't enough.
Thank you Jesus for the power we need!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Who Am I That God Is Mindful of Me?
The Psalmist David wrote those words during a time of his reflection of just how majestic God is. In fact he opened Psalm 8 with those words, O LORD, our Lord, how majestic in your name in all the earth..." NIV and then in verse 3 he said, who is man that you are mindful of him...?
In the vast universe we live in, with it's thousands of galaxies, each as crowded as our very own, who are we that God is mindful of us?
That answer can be answered with one simple phrase.....you are part of God's creation.....you are part of His design.
And because you are part of His design, there is a purpose and because you are part of His creation, He will provide for your every need.
In life we need fulfillment in our physical needs, our emotional needs and spiritual needs. I want you to know that God "can" and "wants" to fulfill everyone of those needs. Listen to the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 6:25-33, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the bird of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So don't worry saying, "what shall we eat?" or "what shall we drink?" or "what shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV
You may ask, but why would God do that for me? Because You are His creation! Believe in Him and you will activate his blessings and give him the freedom to engage on your behalf.
In the vast universe we live in, with it's thousands of galaxies, each as crowded as our very own, who are we that God is mindful of us?
That answer can be answered with one simple phrase.....you are part of God's creation.....you are part of His design.
And because you are part of His design, there is a purpose and because you are part of His creation, He will provide for your every need.
In life we need fulfillment in our physical needs, our emotional needs and spiritual needs. I want you to know that God "can" and "wants" to fulfill everyone of those needs. Listen to the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 6:25-33, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the bird of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So don't worry saying, "what shall we eat?" or "what shall we drink?" or "what shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV
You may ask, but why would God do that for me? Because You are His creation! Believe in Him and you will activate his blessings and give him the freedom to engage on your behalf.
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