I often think about how the Body of Christ needs to work together to accomplish that which God wants to do. For years we have heard all the big names in Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal ministry circles. From Benny Hinn to Billy Graham, we have seen them perform.What we haven't seen very often, is a team approach; a body of many parts working together for the Kingdom.
I confess that I was part of the superstar or rock-star generation. In some cases the athletes of my day were virtual one-man teams like Michael Jordan or Bobby Orr. Rock superstars like Jimmy Page or Sting, could make CD's with anyone they wanted to. They only required some assistance, not a team. God has a way of dealing with each one of us individually; here is what happened to me.
One of my Brazilian friends got me an invitation to minister with him on the South Coast of Massachusetts. Our team consisted of a preacher, my interpreter; an evangelist, another friend with a healing gift and me. The church where the service was being held was also where the famous evangelist D. L. Moody had once preached. As I read the plaque on the wall I felt humbled by his accomplishments for the Kingdom. He was a superstar in his day.
I met the pastor and his wife along with some of the members of a small Brazilian congregation; about 40. The service began with worship and during that time a drunken man came in. I was impressed with the pastor as he and some of the members ministered to him. I think it took the man a few minutes to understand that the service was being held in Portuguese. Once he discovered that, he left quietly. My friend the preacher took to the pulpit and spoke about the "Spirit and The Bride", a favorite worship song of mine.
It was my turn to take the platform when I stopped and asked the worship leader to play another song and then I stopped to pray. My friend who was interpreting looked at my like, "this isn't the order of the service." I remember ministering to one, maybe two members when a man with a guitar came in shouting in Spanish. The interpreter told me that he wanted to use the sanctuary and had a document saying that he could do so. He actually wasn't scheduled to use the church for about another 45 minutes, thought he insisted we needed to leave. He continued shouting and engaged some of the members in an argument. There were threats from both sides. It was like a
Back at the apartment, I simply began to minister pretty much where I had left off. What interested me was a man that was from the other church, the one which the screaming guitar player was a pastor of. He came to the apartment and began to point his finger and poked me in the chest. He said, "You are a false prophet and the gift is from the devil." Wow, in the natural I was a bit frightened as this man was 100 lbs. heavier, and about 4 inches taller then I am.
All of a sudden I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me, "Tell him he has 2 sons." So I did, he stopped for a moment to listen. Then I felt the Lord prompt me to tell him about one son here in the
"She is in the car, I will get her." He said as he headed for the staircase.
His wife came in and my friend with the healing gift prayed for her. God supernaturally un-fused the six vertebra in her back which she had previously had surgery on! She fell to the floor under the Power. When she arose, she could bend over and touch her toes! The man was so convinced of the presence and power of God he began to cry. He sobbed "Mouchos gracias Jesus!" The power of the Holy Spirit then came on Him and it took three men to catch him and steady the bookcase and TV as he fell to the floor.
His wife kept bending over to make sure that her healing was for real. As he was leaving he said. "Mi amigo, usted es un hombre de Dios." (My friend, you are a man of God.) He must have hugged me two or three times before he left that night. His wife kept crying and shouting Gloria a Dios - Glory to God!
Mouchos gracias Jesus!
1 comment:
I would have loved to be there to see that.
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