I am amazed.
Since my return from Brazil I have been privileged to preach in five unique places, from churches to schools of the supernatural, and I am scheduled for more. In each venue the Holy Spirit 'shows up' in a way I did not experience before going to Brazil. I seem to have returned with a real impartation.
For those of you who do not know what an 'impartation' is, I must briefly explain (without developing the theological basis, for lack of space and time): an impartation is when a man or woman of God lays hands on you and 'imparts' a gift of the Holy Spirit to you. That's as brief as I can get.
I had some experience with this over the years, having noticed a change after someone prayed for me, I developed some supernatural manifestation. For example, when my friend Craig prayed for me a year ago, I began to experience my right hand emanating heat when I prayed for people. I know this sounds crazy to some of my friends, but I trust that you know that I do not lie about such things. The things of the Spirit are not something I am about to mess with.
In Brazil several of the Global Awakening team, including Randy Clark, prayed for all the people on the trip to receive an impartation. All of us experienced an immediate transference of gifting to lay hands on the sick and see healing. I believe that this gift is available to all who believe, "These signs shall follow..." Mk.16:17; but I am increasingly aware that these gifts can be stirred up, increased and imparted to us by the laying on of hands (Rom.1:11, 1Tim.4:14, 2Tim.1:6).
One of the things that appears to be a manifestation of impartation is the touch of the Holy Spirit on those who are prayed for. People respond in various ways to this 'touch', some laugh, some cry, some fall under the power (and peace) of the Spirit. Touched by the love of God. This happened alot to the people we prayed for in Brazil, and it is still happening to those I pray for here since my return.
This is the sign and wonder I am amazed at. I love the blessed joy of our Savior touching folk with tangible evidence of His Presence. There can be no greater joy for a preacher than the joy of seeing people loved on by the Holy Spirit. It is a great joy to have people respond to a message you preach, but it is nothing to compare with having people receive directly from God. He gets all the glory, and you get to watch Him use you. What a privilege!
The thing that I am equally amazed with is the fact that I am amazed at all. When I re-read my own Blogs from Brazil I found that I repeatedly expressed my amazement at God using us to perform signs and wonders in His name. In a way this is an expression of my own unbelief. I am not saying I doubt or lack faith, I am only saying that it should not surprise me that these things happen through us. I never want it to become so routine that I lose the 'wonder' of it all, but I do want to get to the point where I expect God to be God and assume His power is at work in all who believe.
I write this to encourage everyone who reads this to press in to all God has for you. To expect MORE. To abandon some of our preconceived God-concepts and seek Him for all He has for you.
I write this to tell you that I believe we are in the midst of the greatest move of God in church history; a revival, a reformation is taking place and we are all invited. Perhaps I write this for that very reason, consider this your invitation!
I will write more about this and maybe attempt to explain some of the things I am seeing from a theological foundation. But you already know this, if you know me; this is all about His absolute, unconditional grace. Jesus loves us and He loves to love on us in tangible ways.
The supernatural part of ministry should be as natural as it is 'super', we have an awesome God who desires to transcend our tangible and obvious reality (or should I say invade it) with His superior reality. I still have a limited experience with this but it is becoming 'normal' and that is exactly what I have desired for all my life. As I said in my Blog entry from October 4th; "I have found God (that I suspected existed) to be the God He said He was."
I believe that all of us desire to see God be as powerful on our behalf as He reveals Himself to be in His word. So I find this joy: I am not only able to bring the 'Good News' of His great love for us...God is demonstrating and backing up His 'word' with tangible evidence!
Our ministry is increasing, as I outlined at the beginning of this Blog entry; we are very busy doing the very thing He has called us to do. I am preaching more, teaching more, and continuing in the main body of my ministry, which has become writing about my own journey, encouraging others and meeting with many people. The entire family is involved in the same thing. We are all seeing supernatural elements added to whatever we do.
We live by your gifts offerings for our support. Though I receive an honorarium when I preach, my schedule is not such that it meets our financial needs. We are hoping that you will consider supporting this ministry and we have set up a way you can do this right here on this website.
We want to thank everyone who has supported this ministry over the last year (and all who have supported our ministry for many, many years), we are sincerely grateful to you all. I say this on behalf of Jan, Hannah, Ethan and Seth, who have a real part in the ministry we are now doing, and more as a family than ever before.
We have reestablished our non-profit covering for you to be able to make donations to our ministry with greater ease. Some of you will remember 'Testament', this is the name of our non-profit. You will find a new "DONATE" button on our 'Contact' page by clicking on the button at the bottom of each page of the website. It will guide you to the PayPal site where you can use the PayPal system or use a debit/credit card.
Thank you and bless you all!
Ray
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Carter Wood's Promotion
I know that this is my Blog. I get to write about myself. But I am compelled to write this one about someone else because it is a cool story.
I was asked by the Global Awakening Ministry to fill out a report form at the end of our trip to Brazil. They asked practical questions like 'What could we do to make the trip better?' and such.
The more important questions were by way of statistics. Healings and the like. One of these questions was 'What was the highlight of your experience?'
I had to answer honestly. Regardless of all the wonders and healings God did through my hands the single highlight of the trip for me was (I wrote); 'Watching my friend Carter Wood being favored, honored and blessed, walking in his anointing, wearing his mantle'.
It is an honest report. I hope I can explain it here.
First a little background; Carter Wood is the pastor of Vertical Call Church in Santa Rosa, Ca. he is also (along with his wife Diana) the director of the school of the supernatural of the same name.
Cater is an old friend in that I have known him for 15+ years, but he is a new friend too. I felt the Lord leading me to reconnect with a lot of old friends when I got back into this renewal...but the connection with Carter was more than a 'reconnection'...it was a divine set-up! I could give details about prophetic dreams and 'words' re: Carter and my invitation from God to connect with him but for lack of time I will let that be enough.
Before we left for Brazil, Carter and Diana invited me to teach at their 'School of the Supernatural', it was and is an awesome privilege. (and a fulfillment of vision too). Hannah (my Hannah) became a student there. (this was her leading, quite separate from my invitation)
It was Carter who invited me to go with him to Brazil. His desire was for me to have this experience of 'more'. He knew it would be the blessing it was.
I was in class with Carter as he told his students of his reason for going to Brazil; he wanted 'more' too. He was not going to minister, he had no expectations of what was to come.
Carter knows Randy Clark, he has been on trips with him before, Randy has asked Carter to preach for him on some of these trips. But I know for a fact that Carter had no expectations. In fact he signed up as a 'team member' just as I did. His application was almost bumped, as was mine, due to the many number of applications.
So when we got to Brazil, Carter, and the rest of the Global team, sat back and buckled-up for impartation and a wonderful opportunity to pray and observe and be blessed.
More Background; it is not my place to record the challenges that Carter and Diana and the Vertical Call Church have experienced in recent years, but I will say they have been significant. I know the promises of God come in different timing than ours. I also know that the call of God on Carter Wood's life is huge.
So with that background I give this report of what happened in Brazil.
The day after we arrived Carter was asked to fill in for Tom Jones, Randy Clark's senior associate. Carter did a wonderful job. He was familiar with the Global Awakening ministry template and he performed well. The next day Tom Jones lost his voice and Carter was called to fill in again at the main meetings.
This did not stop. Carter filled in for Randy when Randy joined the team in Brazil four days into the trip. He taught the classes to the team and for the churches Global was ministering in. He preached at the main meetings, he was sent with a team to some other churches to minister...(one in particular, recounted in the Blog entry for Oct 2nd, 'What Revival Looks Like'). He preached or taught every day except one, sometimes 2-3 times a day.
This could be an account of how Randy Clark used an available and experienced minister to help him. Except for that 'supernatural' thing...this was no coincidence.... It was a promotion.
We have been taught in this stream of Revival Culture to recognize certain things that occur, which can appear to have a natural explanation, but are not in any way natural....when God moves in a sovereign way...this is what happened for Carter. This revival stream understands what I mean by 'promotion'.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon him...he moved within his gifting and his calling with a grace and ease that was apparently remarkable. Everyone on the team observed this. Many were asking to go wherever Carter was going, wherever he went it looked like revival. And it was a lot of fun.
This is not to compare the times with Carter with those of Randy or Tom..(everywhere the Global team went the atmosphere ripe with the full blessing and power of the Holy Spirit). But I am not going to succumb to 'Christian understatement' any more than I would to hyperbole. The fact is Carter Wood was off-the-charts awesomely used of God to steward some of the most remarkable manifestations of revival I have ever seen. And the team knew it.
I was there as an observer. I was the guy that accompanied Carter Wood to Brazil. In fact I got a little tired of people on the team coming up to introduce themselves to me and saying something like; "Wow, what a privilege it must be for you to hang around with a man of God like Carter"(I say this with a smile, It was and is a privilege).
In all this Carter remained at ease. What I mean is; he saw what was happening and did not change. There was no change. He was the man I have grown to understand and love. A man without guile, simple and uncomplicated, deeply humble, and absolutely without the need for self promotion.
So why do I need to write about this?
For a few reasons; first, there is the 'news reporter' in me...I want to tell the world about something I think should be known and no one else might record.
Second; (I am no fool) I have learned that in this culture when you see a prophet and honor a prophet you share in his reward. (Global Awakening should reap 'big-time' for this alone)
Third; it is a significant encouragement to me to see someone who has waited a long time, paid a huge price, and has such an amazing call of God on his life get the level of recognition Carter got in Brazil.
Fourth and perhaps most importantly; I write this as an invitation to Santa Rosa and the church here. Revival is here. The Holy Spirit is moving in a powerful way. We must set aside some of our need to be important in ourselves and recognize the hand of God wherever and upon whomever it rest..OK...This is my Blog...no one is paying me to write this: I observe a 'general' in our midst.
Of course it may appear out of character for me to be so enthusiastic about some 'one' person...if you know me, you know I do not follow 'men'...but those in the culture of honor will recognize that this Blog is written towards one end alone: honor. I want to honor my friend Carter. I want you to know that watching his 'promotion' was a significant part of 'my' trip to Brazil.
I was asked by the Global Awakening Ministry to fill out a report form at the end of our trip to Brazil. They asked practical questions like 'What could we do to make the trip better?' and such.
The more important questions were by way of statistics. Healings and the like. One of these questions was 'What was the highlight of your experience?'
I had to answer honestly. Regardless of all the wonders and healings God did through my hands the single highlight of the trip for me was (I wrote); 'Watching my friend Carter Wood being favored, honored and blessed, walking in his anointing, wearing his mantle'.
It is an honest report. I hope I can explain it here.
First a little background; Carter Wood is the pastor of Vertical Call Church in Santa Rosa, Ca. he is also (along with his wife Diana) the director of the school of the supernatural of the same name.
Cater is an old friend in that I have known him for 15+ years, but he is a new friend too. I felt the Lord leading me to reconnect with a lot of old friends when I got back into this renewal...but the connection with Carter was more than a 'reconnection'...it was a divine set-up! I could give details about prophetic dreams and 'words' re: Carter and my invitation from God to connect with him but for lack of time I will let that be enough.
Before we left for Brazil, Carter and Diana invited me to teach at their 'School of the Supernatural', it was and is an awesome privilege. (and a fulfillment of vision too). Hannah (my Hannah) became a student there. (this was her leading, quite separate from my invitation)
It was Carter who invited me to go with him to Brazil. His desire was for me to have this experience of 'more'. He knew it would be the blessing it was.
I was in class with Carter as he told his students of his reason for going to Brazil; he wanted 'more' too. He was not going to minister, he had no expectations of what was to come.
Carter knows Randy Clark, he has been on trips with him before, Randy has asked Carter to preach for him on some of these trips. But I know for a fact that Carter had no expectations. In fact he signed up as a 'team member' just as I did. His application was almost bumped, as was mine, due to the many number of applications.
So when we got to Brazil, Carter, and the rest of the Global team, sat back and buckled-up for impartation and a wonderful opportunity to pray and observe and be blessed.
More Background; it is not my place to record the challenges that Carter and Diana and the Vertical Call Church have experienced in recent years, but I will say they have been significant. I know the promises of God come in different timing than ours. I also know that the call of God on Carter Wood's life is huge.
So with that background I give this report of what happened in Brazil.
The day after we arrived Carter was asked to fill in for Tom Jones, Randy Clark's senior associate. Carter did a wonderful job. He was familiar with the Global Awakening ministry template and he performed well. The next day Tom Jones lost his voice and Carter was called to fill in again at the main meetings.
This did not stop. Carter filled in for Randy when Randy joined the team in Brazil four days into the trip. He taught the classes to the team and for the churches Global was ministering in. He preached at the main meetings, he was sent with a team to some other churches to minister...(one in particular, recounted in the Blog entry for Oct 2nd, 'What Revival Looks Like'). He preached or taught every day except one, sometimes 2-3 times a day.
This could be an account of how Randy Clark used an available and experienced minister to help him. Except for that 'supernatural' thing...this was no coincidence.... It was a promotion.
We have been taught in this stream of Revival Culture to recognize certain things that occur, which can appear to have a natural explanation, but are not in any way natural....when God moves in a sovereign way...this is what happened for Carter. This revival stream understands what I mean by 'promotion'.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon him...he moved within his gifting and his calling with a grace and ease that was apparently remarkable. Everyone on the team observed this. Many were asking to go wherever Carter was going, wherever he went it looked like revival. And it was a lot of fun.
This is not to compare the times with Carter with those of Randy or Tom..(everywhere the Global team went the atmosphere ripe with the full blessing and power of the Holy Spirit). But I am not going to succumb to 'Christian understatement' any more than I would to hyperbole. The fact is Carter Wood was off-the-charts awesomely used of God to steward some of the most remarkable manifestations of revival I have ever seen. And the team knew it.
I was there as an observer. I was the guy that accompanied Carter Wood to Brazil. In fact I got a little tired of people on the team coming up to introduce themselves to me and saying something like; "Wow, what a privilege it must be for you to hang around with a man of God like Carter"(I say this with a smile, It was and is a privilege).
In all this Carter remained at ease. What I mean is; he saw what was happening and did not change. There was no change. He was the man I have grown to understand and love. A man without guile, simple and uncomplicated, deeply humble, and absolutely without the need for self promotion.
So why do I need to write about this?
For a few reasons; first, there is the 'news reporter' in me...I want to tell the world about something I think should be known and no one else might record.
Second; (I am no fool) I have learned that in this culture when you see a prophet and honor a prophet you share in his reward. (Global Awakening should reap 'big-time' for this alone)
Third; it is a significant encouragement to me to see someone who has waited a long time, paid a huge price, and has such an amazing call of God on his life get the level of recognition Carter got in Brazil.
Fourth and perhaps most importantly; I write this as an invitation to Santa Rosa and the church here. Revival is here. The Holy Spirit is moving in a powerful way. We must set aside some of our need to be important in ourselves and recognize the hand of God wherever and upon whomever it rest..OK...This is my Blog...no one is paying me to write this: I observe a 'general' in our midst.
Of course it may appear out of character for me to be so enthusiastic about some 'one' person...if you know me, you know I do not follow 'men'...but those in the culture of honor will recognize that this Blog is written towards one end alone: honor. I want to honor my friend Carter. I want you to know that watching his 'promotion' was a significant part of 'my' trip to Brazil.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Last Report from Brazil
I love the joy of experiencing the supernatural power of God. I love it for myself, and I love it for you. (those friends who follow this website).
You know me, you know my journey, you trust my heart. You know I hate exaggeration for any reason. You know that I was a skeptic for years and had to come slowly into this renewal for fear of being led down that path of 'charismania' I so despised. You know that anything I write here is not to sell some idea or force some response from you.
I tell you this story for one reason alone. I have found that God (that I suspected existed) to be the God He said He was. And that this discovery makes me happy. And I want you to be as happy too.
Truly (You know this; if you know me at all); all I want is to know what is really true about God. I have been searching 'after' truth for all my Christian life. My faith, before I discovered how powerful God really is, was strong, (and I believed in a God of power) but not strong enough to keep me from discouragement. (because I found that He appeared to be limited in tangible ways ....I will write more on this soon): In order for God to be as 'good' as He says He is He must also back up His promise. A 'good' that is promised but not kept is a form of evil. It may be the most painful thing, to the heart, than any abuse on the planet.
Last night I saw some remarkable things...on top of the 1,000 physical healings that have taken place on this trip, were the healings of the heart through the touch of God that causes people to fall over and shake, (and come up happy). I am sure some of these are emotional, some 'put-on' so as to be included in the 'happening', but most are too difficult to explain. (unless you want to insult the 200 people who fell last night and call it all hype...the church we are in is modern and sophisticated, full of doctors lawyers and professionals.) People were falling down with just one touch on the forehead. I prayed for one woman who seemed to be touched by God as she trembled but did not fall. I had instructed the person behind her to gently touch her back so that she would know someone was there to 'catch' her if she fell. The woman I had my hands on was still standing when I noticed that the 'catcher' was gone. She had fallen at down behind her and lay shaking on the floor.
Some came forward for healing. A woman with a hole in her right eye with very blurred vision and the inability to wear corrective 'contacts' due to the nature of the problem. After a startlingly short prayer she felt warmth in that eye...we checked and she was at 60% improvement...(this time I had a translator who spoke excellent English)...we prayed for 100%.
It did not take long...within moments she told us she had perfect vision, and I knew it was true because she had that 'look' on her face...the one I now have enough experience to recognize when I see it; 'the look of having been touched by God.'
A young man came up to me with and showed us (my translator and me) his wrist. It bore a 3-4 inch scar where he had surgery after a motorcycle accident. He could move his fingers and hand but he had no mobility in his wrist, it was as stiff as a board. I prayed...again a surprisingly short prayer (I began to think that I was keeping my hands on longer than needed for my own benefit)
he reported heat in the area...we checked and he moved his wrist for the first time....
(20% rotation)..more prayer..50%...more (again; short) 100%!!! I wish you could have seen the face of a young man who 5 minutes before was doomed to a life of limitation, now 'incredibly' normal. I even prayed for the scar to go away...it didn't.. perhaps it will become a lifelong memorial stone'.
Now, as if that was not enough excitement for me;... after all was said and done, he tells me that there was a metal plate in his wrist!!!! I told the translator to tell him to get an x-ray and report back. (I have the translators e-mail, I want to know if that thing is gone!). Even if it is not, as far as I know, surgical metal plates do not bend with perfect wrist rotation.
I have to go back to my original thoughts. Why do I relate these accounts to you?
The nice thing about a Blog is that you get to be vulnerable, people expect you to be yourself.
So here I am absolutely in a state of wonder and great joy...you know that I am experiencing something first hand that confirms what I expected all along...We have a powerful God.
He is still a God of sign and wonders. He still tangibly touches His kids. He still uses the likes of us.
I'll leave the questions for another time; I had one person who I prayed for who did not get immediate healing (I've heard stories of people getting progressive healing)...I must rejoice that of the 25 + people I have prayed for only one did not get immediately healed...'come on'...I have to take some time to 'wonder' about those signs and wonders. (and I have one more night tonight)
Again; the thing that brings my heart to its knees (if you will), the thing that make me literally tremble as I pray for the sick, the thing that makes my heart sore (and soar) from aching....is that awe-full revelation that through 'these' hands someone was supernaturally touched by the living God. Someone was tangibly loved by Jesus....and all the while Jesus is telling me; "see Ray, you were right about me...I am everything you believed in your heart all along". In this way I am tangibly loved by my God.
Jesus is who who He says He is, and greater still.
You know me, you know my journey, you trust my heart. You know I hate exaggeration for any reason. You know that I was a skeptic for years and had to come slowly into this renewal for fear of being led down that path of 'charismania' I so despised. You know that anything I write here is not to sell some idea or force some response from you.
I tell you this story for one reason alone. I have found that God (that I suspected existed) to be the God He said He was. And that this discovery makes me happy. And I want you to be as happy too.
Truly (You know this; if you know me at all); all I want is to know what is really true about God. I have been searching 'after' truth for all my Christian life. My faith, before I discovered how powerful God really is, was strong, (and I believed in a God of power) but not strong enough to keep me from discouragement. (because I found that He appeared to be limited in tangible ways ....I will write more on this soon): In order for God to be as 'good' as He says He is He must also back up His promise. A 'good' that is promised but not kept is a form of evil. It may be the most painful thing, to the heart, than any abuse on the planet.
Last night I saw some remarkable things...on top of the 1,000 physical healings that have taken place on this trip, were the healings of the heart through the touch of God that causes people to fall over and shake, (and come up happy). I am sure some of these are emotional, some 'put-on' so as to be included in the 'happening', but most are too difficult to explain. (unless you want to insult the 200 people who fell last night and call it all hype...the church we are in is modern and sophisticated, full of doctors lawyers and professionals.) People were falling down with just one touch on the forehead. I prayed for one woman who seemed to be touched by God as she trembled but did not fall. I had instructed the person behind her to gently touch her back so that she would know someone was there to 'catch' her if she fell. The woman I had my hands on was still standing when I noticed that the 'catcher' was gone. She had fallen at down behind her and lay shaking on the floor.
Some came forward for healing. A woman with a hole in her right eye with very blurred vision and the inability to wear corrective 'contacts' due to the nature of the problem. After a startlingly short prayer she felt warmth in that eye...we checked and she was at 60% improvement...(this time I had a translator who spoke excellent English)...we prayed for 100%.
It did not take long...within moments she told us she had perfect vision, and I knew it was true because she had that 'look' on her face...the one I now have enough experience to recognize when I see it; 'the look of having been touched by God.'
A young man came up to me with and showed us (my translator and me) his wrist. It bore a 3-4 inch scar where he had surgery after a motorcycle accident. He could move his fingers and hand but he had no mobility in his wrist, it was as stiff as a board. I prayed...again a surprisingly short prayer (I began to think that I was keeping my hands on longer than needed for my own benefit)
he reported heat in the area...we checked and he moved his wrist for the first time....
(20% rotation)..more prayer..50%...more (again; short) 100%!!! I wish you could have seen the face of a young man who 5 minutes before was doomed to a life of limitation, now 'incredibly' normal. I even prayed for the scar to go away...it didn't.. perhaps it will become a lifelong memorial stone'.
Now, as if that was not enough excitement for me;... after all was said and done, he tells me that there was a metal plate in his wrist!!!! I told the translator to tell him to get an x-ray and report back. (I have the translators e-mail, I want to know if that thing is gone!). Even if it is not, as far as I know, surgical metal plates do not bend with perfect wrist rotation.
I have to go back to my original thoughts. Why do I relate these accounts to you?
The nice thing about a Blog is that you get to be vulnerable, people expect you to be yourself.
So here I am absolutely in a state of wonder and great joy...you know that I am experiencing something first hand that confirms what I expected all along...We have a powerful God.
He is still a God of sign and wonders. He still tangibly touches His kids. He still uses the likes of us.
I'll leave the questions for another time; I had one person who I prayed for who did not get immediate healing (I've heard stories of people getting progressive healing)...I must rejoice that of the 25 + people I have prayed for only one did not get immediately healed...'come on'...I have to take some time to 'wonder' about those signs and wonders. (and I have one more night tonight)
Again; the thing that brings my heart to its knees (if you will), the thing that make me literally tremble as I pray for the sick, the thing that makes my heart sore (and soar) from aching....is that awe-full revelation that through 'these' hands someone was supernaturally touched by the living God. Someone was tangibly loved by Jesus....and all the while Jesus is telling me; "see Ray, you were right about me...I am everything you believed in your heart all along". In this way I am tangibly loved by my God.
Jesus is who who He says He is, and greater still.
Friday, October 2, 2009
What Revival Looks Like.
Carter Wood was asked to take a small team of 'Global Awakening' trip members to another church.
Randy Clark was preaching in the main Urberlandia (Brazil) church. We arrived at 8:00pm.
Carter had prepared a message. But became quickly aware that he Holy Spirit wanted to do something else. He began to exhort the congregation to press in and go for God. There were words that encouraged the pursuit of destiny. Carter spoke about the hand of God on every life.
The room was filled with expectancy. The Presence of God was obvious. But when Carter shouted out "God is good" a clap of thunder shook the church, the atmosphere shot up to a level of intensity I have never seen. There could be no missing it, the power of God was in the house.
What follows is a random report of a amazing moment. It was so intense I could not even try to gather it into a perfect consecutive order.
The small team of GA members were on the platform behind Carter. He had just led the team in sharing 'words of knowledge' that the team members had for specific illnesses. ..example; "Someone here has a pain in their right shoulder"...the person with that illness was to stand.
At least 100 people were standing...even before prayer...just by calling out the sickness..most were healed...the remaining were prayed for...as before; they indicated their healing by waving both hands (this is a something Randy Clark does at most of his services, often with the same result: many are healed this way, 'sovereign healings,' as Randy calls them) Again, most were healed, without anyone laying hands on them. Carter asked for all the healed to sit...only a hand full remained standing. All sick were asked to stand (those others who did not have specific word of knowledge) again, most were healed....112 people in total waved their hands indicating that they had at least 80% healing. By the end of the evening that number would increase to over 220. Almost 1/2 the congregation.
The Church was getting very excited...Carter required that they respond with appropriate joy...he exhorted them to get excited about this..to give God a shout of praise...the church was more than willing to go along. Every voice in the house was raised with praise and wonder.
Somewhere in this exhortation Carter shouted the words; "God is good", the thunder clapped and all heaven broke loose.
The GA team behind Carter were getting 'drunk in the Spirit'...they started to fall to the ground or shake where they stood. Carter almost lost his translator as Jeff was starting to manifest the power of God on him. It was hard to believe that the church could get more excited, but they did.
The team (those who remained standing) were instructed to go out into the congregation and lay hands on them...chairs were cast aside and quickly stacked...the team went through the crowd...some just required a touch on the forehead and they fell in the Spirit....over 50 people were scattered all over the place. All the church were responding in some manner, they were praying for ech other, laughing, crying, praying or singing in tongues.
The focus shifted to prayer for the sick...the people lined up in front of GA team members (most of whom had some help with translation, a few people in the church spoke English, my interpreter turned out to be a physician with a limited vocabulary but a great education in diseases) I prayed.
The first in my line was a woman about 30-35 with Cancer of the heart that had gone into the spine. She was in pain especially at the back of the upper spine and neck. As I prayed for her she felt a warmth in her chest and back...when I touched her neck she began to weep...then she began to smile...and she began to praise God. An incredible expression came on her face as she looked at me... I cannot describe it... It is something like surprise, joy, (is this real ?) gratitude, and wonder all mixed into one. When our eyes met she and I knew she was healed.
A young man of 18 came too. He had a joint disease that my translator could find no simple English words for...(but it had a good long medical name.) His joints were in pain especially his right knee. I prayed for all of his joints but then focused on his knee. I held my hands around his knee. He soon began to shake all over and then he started to make little hops. I asked my translator what was happening. Apparently he as feeling fire on his legs, especially that knee. Soon the pain was gone but the doctor told me he had muscle loss and atrophy and weakness in the knee...so I went back to praying....soon he was moving his knee back and forth....I asked "could he do this before?"..."no!" The young man was so surprised he pulled up his jeans leg to check it out himself...if I understood my translator correctly; he had all strength and even restoration of tissue. He rolled his kneecap around with his hands like it was a new toy.
There were others in line that were less dramatic but not less important to the person or to God. Everyone I prayed for as healed. (I must qualify that; there as one woman I never got to check back with because she fell over the moment I touched her and spent a considerable time on the floor, I assume she got healed)
There were reports later of hearing loss restored,( along with vision.). Every team member reported the same thing; everyone they prayed for got healed. (Most were totally healed, but some, like my Cancer victim, do not have medical confirmation....I write this for those friends of mine who are not quite comfortable with this revival report and would like to have a reason to continue in doubt and still be my friend: I give you this out as a free gift)
The room was a glorious chaos of wonderful intensity. Carter stewarded the response to the presence of the Holy Spirit and what God was doing with a remarkable, sensitivity, authority and accuracy.
The room was filled with expressions of joy and wonder... I passed one teenage girl who reached out to touch me, when I turned to her she could not speak...she just stared at me a with a puzzled look on her face, I think she was hoping, somehow, that I would be able to explain what was happening to her. Without common language I could be no help. I might not have been able to explain it in English. I just put my hand on her head and blessed her and agreed with whatever God was doing. Claps of thunder and flashes of lighting coming through the open windows and doors of the humid tropical night added to a dramatic and prophetic effect. The electrical storm was at its height right outside (and quite loud at times,) during the healing prayer.
Those on the team who are sensitive to such things spoke of angelic activity storming about the room at the same point.
The song of Brian Johnson kept coming to mind; "this is what it looks like when heaven comes down, this is what it sounds like..."
If this is what revival looks like...I want to live here...(no not in Brazil)....in Revival....... It is indeed wonderful fun, as Carter told us before the service....but it is also wonderfully painful.
As our bus full of the more 'experienced revivalist' (appropriately) celebrated God on the way back to the hotel...I was subdued...I tried to hide the weeping inside my heart...(I am still holding it in as I write this so that I can see to type and also not to drip on Carter's Laptop)
All I could see before me is that woman's face when she was healed...it is a 'beautiful' haunting of my soul, but a 'haunting' none the less...I am in awe of God. I have no words. I am haunted.
Last Tuesday, I was one of a few left standing when Randy Clark prayed impartaton for the team members...I was not 'blasted', (as they say around here)...neither was I disappointed...I have a great faith in impartation....it happens even if you don't feel a thing.
Last night and today I do feel this; I am 'blasted' inside, my heart aches with this glorious 'haunting';..... God reached out from His heavens and touched His child and healed her.... She was tangibly loved by God...I saw it in her eyes...Jesus touched her..."He touched her and made her whole"...and in some way He touched me and made me (more) whole too.
This is what Revival looks like.
Randy Clark was preaching in the main Urberlandia (Brazil) church. We arrived at 8:00pm.
Carter had prepared a message. But became quickly aware that he Holy Spirit wanted to do something else. He began to exhort the congregation to press in and go for God. There were words that encouraged the pursuit of destiny. Carter spoke about the hand of God on every life.
The room was filled with expectancy. The Presence of God was obvious. But when Carter shouted out "God is good" a clap of thunder shook the church, the atmosphere shot up to a level of intensity I have never seen. There could be no missing it, the power of God was in the house.
What follows is a random report of a amazing moment. It was so intense I could not even try to gather it into a perfect consecutive order.
The small team of GA members were on the platform behind Carter. He had just led the team in sharing 'words of knowledge' that the team members had for specific illnesses. ..example; "Someone here has a pain in their right shoulder"...the person with that illness was to stand.
At least 100 people were standing...even before prayer...just by calling out the sickness..most were healed...the remaining were prayed for...as before; they indicated their healing by waving both hands (this is a something Randy Clark does at most of his services, often with the same result: many are healed this way, 'sovereign healings,' as Randy calls them) Again, most were healed, without anyone laying hands on them. Carter asked for all the healed to sit...only a hand full remained standing. All sick were asked to stand (those others who did not have specific word of knowledge) again, most were healed....112 people in total waved their hands indicating that they had at least 80% healing. By the end of the evening that number would increase to over 220. Almost 1/2 the congregation.
The Church was getting very excited...Carter required that they respond with appropriate joy...he exhorted them to get excited about this..to give God a shout of praise...the church was more than willing to go along. Every voice in the house was raised with praise and wonder.
Somewhere in this exhortation Carter shouted the words; "God is good", the thunder clapped and all heaven broke loose.
The GA team behind Carter were getting 'drunk in the Spirit'...they started to fall to the ground or shake where they stood. Carter almost lost his translator as Jeff was starting to manifest the power of God on him. It was hard to believe that the church could get more excited, but they did.
The team (those who remained standing) were instructed to go out into the congregation and lay hands on them...chairs were cast aside and quickly stacked...the team went through the crowd...some just required a touch on the forehead and they fell in the Spirit....over 50 people were scattered all over the place. All the church were responding in some manner, they were praying for ech other, laughing, crying, praying or singing in tongues.
The focus shifted to prayer for the sick...the people lined up in front of GA team members (most of whom had some help with translation, a few people in the church spoke English, my interpreter turned out to be a physician with a limited vocabulary but a great education in diseases) I prayed.
The first in my line was a woman about 30-35 with Cancer of the heart that had gone into the spine. She was in pain especially at the back of the upper spine and neck. As I prayed for her she felt a warmth in her chest and back...when I touched her neck she began to weep...then she began to smile...and she began to praise God. An incredible expression came on her face as she looked at me... I cannot describe it... It is something like surprise, joy, (is this real ?) gratitude, and wonder all mixed into one. When our eyes met she and I knew she was healed.
A young man of 18 came too. He had a joint disease that my translator could find no simple English words for...(but it had a good long medical name.) His joints were in pain especially his right knee. I prayed for all of his joints but then focused on his knee. I held my hands around his knee. He soon began to shake all over and then he started to make little hops. I asked my translator what was happening. Apparently he as feeling fire on his legs, especially that knee. Soon the pain was gone but the doctor told me he had muscle loss and atrophy and weakness in the knee...so I went back to praying....soon he was moving his knee back and forth....I asked "could he do this before?"..."no!" The young man was so surprised he pulled up his jeans leg to check it out himself...if I understood my translator correctly; he had all strength and even restoration of tissue. He rolled his kneecap around with his hands like it was a new toy.
There were others in line that were less dramatic but not less important to the person or to God. Everyone I prayed for as healed. (I must qualify that; there as one woman I never got to check back with because she fell over the moment I touched her and spent a considerable time on the floor, I assume she got healed)
There were reports later of hearing loss restored,( along with vision.). Every team member reported the same thing; everyone they prayed for got healed. (Most were totally healed, but some, like my Cancer victim, do not have medical confirmation....I write this for those friends of mine who are not quite comfortable with this revival report and would like to have a reason to continue in doubt and still be my friend: I give you this out as a free gift)
The room was a glorious chaos of wonderful intensity. Carter stewarded the response to the presence of the Holy Spirit and what God was doing with a remarkable, sensitivity, authority and accuracy.
The room was filled with expressions of joy and wonder... I passed one teenage girl who reached out to touch me, when I turned to her she could not speak...she just stared at me a with a puzzled look on her face, I think she was hoping, somehow, that I would be able to explain what was happening to her. Without common language I could be no help. I might not have been able to explain it in English. I just put my hand on her head and blessed her and agreed with whatever God was doing. Claps of thunder and flashes of lighting coming through the open windows and doors of the humid tropical night added to a dramatic and prophetic effect. The electrical storm was at its height right outside (and quite loud at times,) during the healing prayer.
Those on the team who are sensitive to such things spoke of angelic activity storming about the room at the same point.
The song of Brian Johnson kept coming to mind; "this is what it looks like when heaven comes down, this is what it sounds like..."
If this is what revival looks like...I want to live here...(no not in Brazil)....in Revival....... It is indeed wonderful fun, as Carter told us before the service....but it is also wonderfully painful.
As our bus full of the more 'experienced revivalist' (appropriately) celebrated God on the way back to the hotel...I was subdued...I tried to hide the weeping inside my heart...(I am still holding it in as I write this so that I can see to type and also not to drip on Carter's Laptop)
All I could see before me is that woman's face when she was healed...it is a 'beautiful' haunting of my soul, but a 'haunting' none the less...I am in awe of God. I have no words. I am haunted.
Last Tuesday, I was one of a few left standing when Randy Clark prayed impartaton for the team members...I was not 'blasted', (as they say around here)...neither was I disappointed...I have a great faith in impartation....it happens even if you don't feel a thing.
Last night and today I do feel this; I am 'blasted' inside, my heart aches with this glorious 'haunting';..... God reached out from His heavens and touched His child and healed her.... She was tangibly loved by God...I saw it in her eyes...Jesus touched her..."He touched her and made her whole"...and in some way He touched me and made me (more) whole too.
This is what Revival looks like.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
First report from Sao Paulo
The city of Sao Paulo is a huge, sprawling city of over 10 million people.
It takes hours to travel anywhere within the city during the high traffic hours. (which is most of the daylight hours.)
Th following observations are based on very limited exposure, however, I have never been afraid of giving 'qualified' reports of first impressions, especially when they are favorable;
I love Brazil and the city of Sao Paulo. It is both incredibly poor and very cosmopolitan. There does not appear to be one side of the track and the other 'side of the track'. (Not by my observation anyway). In the same way the multi-racial mix of Brazilians do not seem to have any awareness of race. They appear to me to be completely and perfectly color-blind. This has caused me to respond with a very prophetic sense; that this is a cultural set-up for a revival that would cross denominational lines with ease. A church like the one Christ spoke of. His body in unity as the Trinity is One.
Brazil is a remarkable country. I have only been here two days, and only in this one city, but I am very drawn to the people.
I walked through the mega-mall yesterday by myself, just observing, and it appeared to me that everyone was happy.
I know some people study up on where they travel to and have some knowledge of where they are going but I had no time for that for this trip...so I didn't know what to expect.
It may be simply something the Lord is doing in my heart but I know my heart and I normally hate cities. I am uncomfortable in crowds and I would much rather be somewhere I understand the language.
So to have such an incredible sense of peace is huge for me. It is either the Lord or the nature of the Brazilian people. (it is most likely both)
It is supernatural on one level, something I have come to expect in this walk with the Lord. He does things in our hearts that surprise us. ( Don't worry family,this is not to presume I am called to Brazil.)
Now to report on the Revival and the Global Awakening side of things I have to begin (again) with the people: Most of you who read this Blog and are into the Revival stream would be right at home here. (At least at our first church). I did not recognize any worship song, never mind the words, but I recognized the Spirit of God on the worship. The dancers were familiar, the flags and the volume and the shouts of praise. But the heart for God and the pursuit for 'More' of Him was, unmistakably, familiar.
Tom Jones (Randy Clark' senior associate) spoke the first night at the conference held by he local church, (they have been having small classes in the day and big meetings at night). He got things started off by building faith for God to heal the sick. The call for people to come forward for prayer was given. Many came forward. Many reports were given of healing. (I was not fully engaged due to a lack of sleep. I cannot sleep on planes and I had, thus, been awake for 38 hours.)
Last night Carter Wood of 'Vertical Call' church in Santa Rosa California preached. He is recognized by Global Awakening as a 'one of their own' and has done outreaches for Randy Clark. He spoke of our value and position in Christ. He had the people very stirred by the end of his message, the presence of the Holy Spirit was obvious to all. Again many reports of healing.
One man came forward to give his life to Christ and as healed of deafness too! Thank you Jesus!
I am hoping to be able to get more specific reports. We have very few translators and as the team goes about in the crowed we are often alone. It may cause some difficulty in accurate reporting.
For example I approached a teenage man and he indicated (by pointing) that he wanted prayer for his stomach, I have no idea what was wrong, all I know is that after a few moments of prayer he was smiling and giving a 'thumbs-up' sign. (I assumed this was a good thing.) I realized that unless I saw something overtly dramatic, I would never be able to give real clear reports.
Fortunately there is a medical team on this trip doing an independent study (that Global is participating in) where a doctor is checking people (specifically the blind and deaf) before and after prayer. This is an awkward thing in some ways but I am delighted by their being on this trip as I have a few doubters who follow the website.
The power of God in impartation is a subject I will take up in the next blog...all I can report thus far is that after a Global team leader prayed for me (I felt nothing tangible) I turned to pray for the guy next to me and he doubled over.... Learning curve;..... I don't understand much, but what I do understand, I like.
It is a warm, humid, sunny day...there is a bit of a park out side the hotel...the trees and plants are not like home...the park has the feel of the jungle that this city as built upon. So I will walk and pray and enjoy this culture.
It takes hours to travel anywhere within the city during the high traffic hours. (which is most of the daylight hours.)
Th following observations are based on very limited exposure, however, I have never been afraid of giving 'qualified' reports of first impressions, especially when they are favorable;
I love Brazil and the city of Sao Paulo. It is both incredibly poor and very cosmopolitan. There does not appear to be one side of the track and the other 'side of the track'. (Not by my observation anyway). In the same way the multi-racial mix of Brazilians do not seem to have any awareness of race. They appear to me to be completely and perfectly color-blind. This has caused me to respond with a very prophetic sense; that this is a cultural set-up for a revival that would cross denominational lines with ease. A church like the one Christ spoke of. His body in unity as the Trinity is One.
Brazil is a remarkable country. I have only been here two days, and only in this one city, but I am very drawn to the people.
I walked through the mega-mall yesterday by myself, just observing, and it appeared to me that everyone was happy.
I know some people study up on where they travel to and have some knowledge of where they are going but I had no time for that for this trip...so I didn't know what to expect.
It may be simply something the Lord is doing in my heart but I know my heart and I normally hate cities. I am uncomfortable in crowds and I would much rather be somewhere I understand the language.
So to have such an incredible sense of peace is huge for me. It is either the Lord or the nature of the Brazilian people. (it is most likely both)
It is supernatural on one level, something I have come to expect in this walk with the Lord. He does things in our hearts that surprise us. ( Don't worry family,this is not to presume I am called to Brazil.)
Now to report on the Revival and the Global Awakening side of things I have to begin (again) with the people: Most of you who read this Blog and are into the Revival stream would be right at home here. (At least at our first church). I did not recognize any worship song, never mind the words, but I recognized the Spirit of God on the worship. The dancers were familiar, the flags and the volume and the shouts of praise. But the heart for God and the pursuit for 'More' of Him was, unmistakably, familiar.
Tom Jones (Randy Clark' senior associate) spoke the first night at the conference held by he local church, (they have been having small classes in the day and big meetings at night). He got things started off by building faith for God to heal the sick. The call for people to come forward for prayer was given. Many came forward. Many reports were given of healing. (I was not fully engaged due to a lack of sleep. I cannot sleep on planes and I had, thus, been awake for 38 hours.)
Last night Carter Wood of 'Vertical Call' church in Santa Rosa California preached. He is recognized by Global Awakening as a 'one of their own' and has done outreaches for Randy Clark. He spoke of our value and position in Christ. He had the people very stirred by the end of his message, the presence of the Holy Spirit was obvious to all. Again many reports of healing.
One man came forward to give his life to Christ and as healed of deafness too! Thank you Jesus!
I am hoping to be able to get more specific reports. We have very few translators and as the team goes about in the crowed we are often alone. It may cause some difficulty in accurate reporting.
For example I approached a teenage man and he indicated (by pointing) that he wanted prayer for his stomach, I have no idea what was wrong, all I know is that after a few moments of prayer he was smiling and giving a 'thumbs-up' sign. (I assumed this was a good thing.) I realized that unless I saw something overtly dramatic, I would never be able to give real clear reports.
Fortunately there is a medical team on this trip doing an independent study (that Global is participating in) where a doctor is checking people (specifically the blind and deaf) before and after prayer. This is an awkward thing in some ways but I am delighted by their being on this trip as I have a few doubters who follow the website.
The power of God in impartation is a subject I will take up in the next blog...all I can report thus far is that after a Global team leader prayed for me (I felt nothing tangible) I turned to pray for the guy next to me and he doubled over.... Learning curve;..... I don't understand much, but what I do understand, I like.
It is a warm, humid, sunny day...there is a bit of a park out side the hotel...the trees and plants are not like home...the park has the feel of the jungle that this city as built upon. So I will walk and pray and enjoy this culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)