Just how effective are we in what we are doing and could there be a better way to do it? Often we get set into a belief system that we believe is correct and whilst we have the best intentions and do what we do out of love or for God we simply sometimes dont see what we hope for if were doing it incorrectly. In many ways our faith is like computer programming - the hardware works perfectly but it is the software (our beliefs/theology) that causes the hardware to work as intended or not! This is the same with us. We can have a great heart and a desire to see God work, and an immense love for people and never ever see a miracle. This really ran home for me last night when we went to pray at the Stellenbosch hospital. (Please note -I am not judging people, Im talking about the software that they are operating through. Im asking if what they are doing is really working!) Four of us went as a team to the hospital last night to pray for the sick When we went into the first ward the minister from a local church was their with about 8-10 members of his church praying for a lady who was obviously a member of their church. There prayer consisted of the priest reading the liturgy book and the people present reading their parts while a candle burnt on the side table. The priest was in his robes and the people dressed really smartly. Their care and concern for their sick friend was obvious. The prayers were very much God is in control and you must trust Him no matter what the outcome of the sickness is. (Im not saying dont trust God). They prayed for her for about half and hour and then left. When they left she was feeling better emotionally but still sick physically. That lady was the only person they prayed for in the hospital before leaving. Our modus operandi was different - we split up into 2 pairs and each pair went into a ward. We prayed for every person in each ward and in the casualty area afterwards. By the end of an hour and a half we had prayed for about 30 people between us. As we were about to go the security guard called us back to pray for a lady who had just died - he knew we got results and expected us to raise her from the dead! Now not every person we prayed for was healed. In some there were no changes at all (I hate that!) but we dont let that stop us. However we did see the following: 3 people who were partially deaf received full hearing! A man with severe jaundice had all the pain in his body leave almost immediately and within 5 minutes his eyes had changed from bright sickly yellow to I had a rough night looked! Two men received prophetic words At least 3 people were healed of back pain Another 2 of arthritis in their knees A man with tuberculosis could breathe freely without pain A lady with asthma was set healed. A man with kidney stones in the casualty was healed. A man who was hit over the head had all swelling and pain leave immediately A lady with flu was completely set free. And there were more.... This may sound like Im blowing my trumpet but that is not what this is about. Jesus must get the glory. What this is about is two radically different groups of Christians going to the same hospital on the same night and seeing completely different results. Graham Cooke - quotes It is better to be with one who can set a thousand to flight than a thousand who can set one to flight. For too long weve been a church that thinks its numbers that matter. Well most churches have the numbers, but theyve lost the ability to walk as Jesus did and do the things Jesus said we would. Its a sad state of affairs and it has resulted in a church that is theological intelligent but practically useless. Its time to get back to the basics. Id love nothing more than to see those people from the other churches prayer ministry team having the ability to live out their faith in a real way, every day. For that to happen we need to start questioning if what we are doing matches what the Bible tells us we should be doing as Christians. Dont just take everything said from the pulpit or book for granted. Get back to the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you.Trust Him In closing Ill leave you with the same question God asked me 5 years ago which radically changed my walk with Him: ....(your name)..., if youre seated with me in heavenly places and I live in you why are you so ineffective? Go, heal the sick, set the captives free, cast out demons, love people. Jesus told you to do it. If youve tried and it did not work then perhaps you need to change what youve believed or been taught.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 19:12:35 +0000
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