Thursday, June 28, 2007
Big Tops and Humility
Last night we went to pray for some people. At one point, I really felt as if it depended on me that this person got healed or not. I had to repent later on. What was I thinking? One thing I did notice is that I was out of practice. I know that this might sound odd, but I really felt out of practice prophesying and praying for healing. I am becoming more and more convinced that faith has to be exercised on a daily basis. America is the most obese country in the world and people are always scratching their heads asking, "Why don't miracles happen in America like they do in Africa?" I wonder why there aren't a lot of obese people in Africa. Could there be a link or a hint between the natural and supernatural?
I say that the faith to raise the dead in America is there. I have heard of it happening, but not on a large scale because as a whole most people's faith is not being exercised in that area. In short, there aren't that many resurrections because there ain't that many people praying for dead people.
I'm also reading a book about past revivals and one of the things that I like about it are the pictures of the Big Top Tents that these revivalists used to buy and fill up with people. There are so many tent stories, i.e. miracles, supernatural happenings, etc. Even today these things continue to happen, but not on a nationally recognized level (yet) that these people in the first half of the 20th century used to get. We are one generation away from this. It amazes me that so many of the memories of these events-- so many healings-- have been forgotten. How easily we forget.
As a side note here, James Cameron is nowhere in the news these days. His attempted debunking of Christianity didn't survive as long in the media as Paris Hilton's makeover.
I say that the faith to raise the dead in America is there. I have heard of it happening, but not on a large scale because as a whole most people's faith is not being exercised in that area. In short, there aren't that many resurrections because there ain't that many people praying for dead people.
I'm also reading a book about past revivals and one of the things that I like about it are the pictures of the Big Top Tents that these revivalists used to buy and fill up with people. There are so many tent stories, i.e. miracles, supernatural happenings, etc. Even today these things continue to happen, but not on a nationally recognized level (yet) that these people in the first half of the 20th century used to get. We are one generation away from this. It amazes me that so many of the memories of these events-- so many healings-- have been forgotten. How easily we forget.
As a side note here, James Cameron is nowhere in the news these days. His attempted debunking of Christianity didn't survive as long in the media as Paris Hilton's makeover.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Discredit It
Faith healers. Sweaty, fat preachers with a hankie after your money. A lot of hype and tricks. Snake oil and make a big commotion so people get into a frenzy to believe that they're really healed. Lots of psychological tricks and emotional manipulation. The Christianized version of a carney worker.
Well, that's what I used to think about people who prayed for people to get healed. Faith Healers. Hmm. Satan has done such a good job at ridiculing and discrediting the healing ministry that there aren't too many people who even believe that the legitimate actually exists. In this case, the counterfeit has actually taken the place of the real.
It is now my conviction that the amount of overtime the devil has put in to make faith healing seem so ludicrous is going to backfire on him just like the Crucixion back fired on him. We sons and daughters do not need to allow the enemy to steal our inheritance in this. Jesus' and the Apostles' ministries were marked by healing. Even today the majority of people will stand in line to see someone discredit a healer, but few will stand in line long enough to get healed. This, however, is changing. I see an army of people moving in healing and healing each other.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to let Jesus define the picture of a faith healer and not the media or my denomination or my culture. Nor will I bow before the altar of "that stuff stopped with the apostles" or the other altar "that's only for Africa".
The Bride is making herself ready.
Well, that's what I used to think about people who prayed for people to get healed. Faith Healers. Hmm. Satan has done such a good job at ridiculing and discrediting the healing ministry that there aren't too many people who even believe that the legitimate actually exists. In this case, the counterfeit has actually taken the place of the real.
It is now my conviction that the amount of overtime the devil has put in to make faith healing seem so ludicrous is going to backfire on him just like the Crucixion back fired on him. We sons and daughters do not need to allow the enemy to steal our inheritance in this. Jesus' and the Apostles' ministries were marked by healing. Even today the majority of people will stand in line to see someone discredit a healer, but few will stand in line long enough to get healed. This, however, is changing. I see an army of people moving in healing and healing each other.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to let Jesus define the picture of a faith healer and not the media or my denomination or my culture. Nor will I bow before the altar of "that stuff stopped with the apostles" or the other altar "that's only for Africa".
The Bride is making herself ready.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Regular Living for Average People
Too often we can't find ourselves. There is a great line in TeenWolf were Michael J. Fox says, "I'm just an average guy with an average $5 haircut, I don't need this." To some extent he speaks for us all. Many of you reading this blog are just average-- not rich, not poor. Not that religious and not that pagan. Somewhere in the middle. Now, what would you do if I told you that God intends on shaking the middle to see His will done on earth as it is in heaven in this generation? Are we going to continue to live our lives in middle earth or are we going to step foot out the door and see where the road leads? If there is anything Tolkien had a vision of is this: average, middle class people, content with their place in the world seeing something greater than their own lives and giving themselves to it. What is the ring of power for this generation? I believe that we are being called to repent of our beliefs about being average, i.e., useless, and pick up the divine mandate to carry on Jesus' work to destroy the works of the devil where we find them. Tonight I prayed for my friend. His neck was hurting and we prayed for healing to come. Now, we didn't see immediate results, but we at least took a shot at the basket. Later, I prayed for my baby to be free of teething pain. With prayer and a little Tylenol, he went back to sleep. Yeah, I gave him some Tylenol, too. I personally haven't had a lot of success with teething pain through prayer only. I'm still taking baby steps into my destiny and baby steps into our authority in Christ. Baby steps are better than nothing. So, my average, suburban prophets, step into your destiny and start praying for your pets and friends. See how far God is willing to meet you.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Back in the Game
Well, it's been a long time since I've posted, but I've got some good stuff to share. First of all, an odd event. . .
I was walking yesterday and really wanted to buy some water, but like a good postmodern, I had no cash whatsoever and using a credit card for $.20 is too big a hassle. So, I looked in my wallet really carefully because I knew I didn't have any cash the last time, but I thought that there might be an off-chance I missed some. Well, there wasn't any. However, as I was reaching to put my wallet back into my pocket, I had the crazy thougt that maybe the Lord hooked me up with some cash supernaturally. So, I looked again and there it was: enough to get two waters.
The other day, I prophesied over a friend about cherry blossoms in winter. A few days later, I received confirmation that they had been born in winter and that they loved cherries. It might sound small, but it sure feels good when you prophesy over someone and it makes sense to their heart.
Also, DJ and I had the chance to minister to another guy. We gave him several words and these are the ones he agreed were true:
1) He had lost a relative when he was 6 (though this relative wasn't that close to him)
2) He confirmed that he had neck pain on the left side. (We prayed for this later and it was healed-- at least that's what he said. The suprised look on his face when it didn't hurt when he moved it also was a big clue).
3) He confirmed that he was his father's favorite son.
4) He confirmed that he was good with puzzles.
5) He confirmed that he was particular about the way he does things and keeps things organized.
6) He confirmed that he loved Italian food and that his uncle owns an Italian restaurant (the word was just "Italian")
7) He confirmed that he liked piano music.
8) He confirmed that he had significant dreams.
9) He confirmed that he had royal connections.
10) He confirmed that he had had something really alive in his heart, but that it had burned up. (I had seen a picture of a heart with a burnt tree growing out of it, Strangely enough, the next morning, I read in Ezk. 15 of a burned up vine.)
Lastly, I had a dream the other night that was actually for me AND someone else. When I shared it with them, it helped them make sense of their own dreams. This was the first time for that I dreamed something that was applicable to someone else and I also made the connection with them. It's great to get revelation and even better to get it and to be able to apply it.
A lot of things have taken off for me in the area of the prophetic after two main events: 1) impartation and 2) I got a list of names from the Lord of people to ask to intercede on my behalf. Through the prayers of these saints, I've seen greater accuracy and quantity and higher levels of dreaming. I encourage our readers to get more people pressing in for you so you can walk in greater levels of anointing. All of us, of course, stand on the shoulders of giants.
It's good to be back in the game blogging the bragimonies of Jesus!
I was walking yesterday and really wanted to buy some water, but like a good postmodern, I had no cash whatsoever and using a credit card for $.20 is too big a hassle. So, I looked in my wallet really carefully because I knew I didn't have any cash the last time, but I thought that there might be an off-chance I missed some. Well, there wasn't any. However, as I was reaching to put my wallet back into my pocket, I had the crazy thougt that maybe the Lord hooked me up with some cash supernaturally. So, I looked again and there it was: enough to get two waters.
The other day, I prophesied over a friend about cherry blossoms in winter. A few days later, I received confirmation that they had been born in winter and that they loved cherries. It might sound small, but it sure feels good when you prophesy over someone and it makes sense to their heart.
Also, DJ and I had the chance to minister to another guy. We gave him several words and these are the ones he agreed were true:
1) He had lost a relative when he was 6 (though this relative wasn't that close to him)
2) He confirmed that he had neck pain on the left side. (We prayed for this later and it was healed-- at least that's what he said. The suprised look on his face when it didn't hurt when he moved it also was a big clue).
3) He confirmed that he was his father's favorite son.
4) He confirmed that he was good with puzzles.
5) He confirmed that he was particular about the way he does things and keeps things organized.
6) He confirmed that he loved Italian food and that his uncle owns an Italian restaurant (the word was just "Italian")
7) He confirmed that he liked piano music.
8) He confirmed that he had significant dreams.
9) He confirmed that he had royal connections.
10) He confirmed that he had had something really alive in his heart, but that it had burned up. (I had seen a picture of a heart with a burnt tree growing out of it, Strangely enough, the next morning, I read in Ezk. 15 of a burned up vine.)
Lastly, I had a dream the other night that was actually for me AND someone else. When I shared it with them, it helped them make sense of their own dreams. This was the first time for that I dreamed something that was applicable to someone else and I also made the connection with them. It's great to get revelation and even better to get it and to be able to apply it.
A lot of things have taken off for me in the area of the prophetic after two main events: 1) impartation and 2) I got a list of names from the Lord of people to ask to intercede on my behalf. Through the prayers of these saints, I've seen greater accuracy and quantity and higher levels of dreaming. I encourage our readers to get more people pressing in for you so you can walk in greater levels of anointing. All of us, of course, stand on the shoulders of giants.
It's good to be back in the game blogging the bragimonies of Jesus!
