Do I Take The Bible at Face Value?
Before the world race, I did not take the bible at face value. I thought miracles were for special spiritual people like Peter, Paul, and John – people who have known God for years.
I thought… why would God use me to heal someone, cure an illness, or any other biblical miracle? Well, I have performed miracles and I continue to do them. Why? Because I no longer stand on my feelings, but the word of God.
Jesus says, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). My brothers, Luke and Lukas, and I are walking in this authority and the Holy Spirit is moving in Athens.
The Park in Athens
Departing the metro station, Luke, Lukas, and I prayed with expectancy and set out to a local park. Entering the park, we saw an old woman gesturing to us saying, “Money! Baby!” while pointing to a little boy in a stroller. Curious, we met the old woman, her son, and her three grandchildren children. The three of us decided to buy the family food and began a conversation in broken English with her son. Seeing my bible, the old woman said, “Jehovah?” (we assumed she meant Jehovah Witnesses).
We said, “No. Christians. Jesus. Issa (Arabic for Jesus).” The old woman then asked me to read my Bible. I knew she would not understand me, but the word of God “alive and active,” so I read Ephesians. Finishing chapter one, the son explained that his mother had chest pains.
We asked her, “Do you believe Issa can heal you?” She replied, “Yes.” Each of us prayed for her once, then she took a deep breath, breathed out, and gave thumbs up. “Kala (Good!),” she said.
Then Malena, a young woman nearby, explained she was suffering from insomnia, anxiety attacks, and headaches. We asked her, “Do you want us to pray for you too?” She said, “Yes.”
Sitting her on the bench, I asked her if she believed Jesus died, then came alive so she could be healed. Malena said, “Yes,” so I told her to close her eyes and repeat after me. I helped Malena confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, ask to receive the the Holy Spirit, and claim healing and peace over her life. She accidentally said police instead of peace, but God honored her prayer!
As we said, “Amen.” Malena lifted her eyes, as if waking from a sleep. I asked her how she felt and she replied, “VERY GOOOOOD!” She thanked us excitedly, but we said, “It’s not us. It’s Issa.” Then *my favorite part* she shouted while thrusting her hand into the air, “THANK YOU ISSA!”
“Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead! And Christ will shine on you!” – Ephesians 5:14
My Authority in Christ
“I pray… that you may know… his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead… far above all rule and authority and power and dominion… And God placed all things under his feet.”
Ephesians 1:17-21.
Paul prayed that people, the Ephesians, may KNOW. If I read the Bible and have faith in God’s word, then I know “Christ lives in me” and “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal 2:10).
This faith Christ and knowledge of his “great power” is my authority because Jesus Christ, who has been given “all authority in heaven and earth”, lives in me (Matt 28:18).
“That authority is yours whether you feel like you’ve got it or not.” – Kenneth Hagin
Thank you first of all to Pastor Spyros for his teaching me and treating me like a son. You recommendation of Believer’s Authority by Kenneth Hagin has been life changing. To all my supporters and readers, thank you for your prayers and continued donations. Here’s a video about the past month – my last week two weeks Africa and my first week in Greece. Enjoy!
