Romans 15:19 “…by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.”
Paul, the author of Romans is talking here about His ministry. He is claiming that the gospel cannot fully be proclaimed unless there are signs and miracles through the Holy Spirit.
Five of my squad mates and myself gathered around Maithili’s computer in a restaurant near our hotel to listen to a message by Bill Johnson, entitled “Crazy Courage.”
This message is about praying crazy prayers and stepping out in faith to slay the giants around us. Listening to this message was preparation for the day of prayer walking we had planned. This message said that when we speak in courage, God cannot resist to bless it…He is attracted to our courageousness. We prayed for God to give us specific visions of who we were supposed to pray for that day. Between all of us we wrote down the descriptions specific people and places.
The 15 minute bus ride dropped us off in the center of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. We prayed for many this day including a mute woman, and old woman with black and rotten teeth, a woman with a hunchback, a mentally disabled man, and a man named Leo who’s legs had been blown off by Americans in the Viet Nam war. We prayed passionately and courageously for all of them. There was inexpressible joy on the faces of all we touched. I assure you these people are looked over and ignored by masses of people day in and day out…what an honor it was to hold there hands, kiss their cheeks, and kneel down in front of a crippled man on the sidewalk asking for forgiveness that our country had taken his legs. (I LOVE MY NEW JOB!)
My group of 3 found ourselves trying to speak with a young man selling coconut juice and bottled waters. About 30 seconds into this interaction it hit me….”RED HAT.” This guy fit a description team member Krystle had seen in a vision earlier that day. We were struggling with the language barrier and all of a sudden a moto-bike zipped up onto the sidewalk and young Philipino guy hopped off his bike and asked, “Can I ask you guys a favor? I am doing a scavenger hunt and I need to take a picture of 3 Americans hold this Vietnamese sign that says, “Happy Birthday Daniel.” We agreed and asked him if he would not mind telling our friend Tam in the red hat selling coconut juice that God had sent us to talk to him about Jesus and pray for him. The guy quickly agreed to tell him. This was quite remarkable considering I have met only a few people in HCMC who are not locals that speak English and Vietnamese. This guy turned out to be a believer who has been teaching English here for 8 years and originally came to do mission work. Tam was over joyed and quickly called over his friend to be prayed over as well. Both men were pretty shocked that we had come to pray for them…they were shocked!
As I came home from a long day of walking and loving others…I was a bit discouraged. I had prayed big prayers and crazy prayers, yet no ones legs grew back. I know God does things like this all the time and I know we are called to pray for these things. I decided to rebuke the disappointment and thank God for all the works he had done through my team and me that day. (In another group someone decided to follow Christ!!!)
Later that night, after handing out roses to all the woman and girls who work as prostitutes in the area (again, I LOVE my job!), I was walking up the stairs with teammate Krystle. She casually mentioned that her ankle was bothering her and growing increasingly painful. I sat down on the stairs next to her and laid my hand on top of her foot. I prayed a very simple prayer, telling God that I knew he could heal it. I assumed Krystle was flexing and moving her foot because I saw tendons moving and I felt popping under my hand. I ended the short prayer and stood up next to her, thinking casually, “Your will be done, Father.” Not thinking much of it I was surprised to see Krystle’s reaction. “Ali, its healed! There is no more pain! Ali, it is gone! My ankle is better.” I thought she was playing a joke on me. It turns out she had not moved her foot at all while I prayed. God is so Good!
I have decided there is no formula for praying healing for others. All you have to do is obey with faith and courage. God will do what He wants. His plan is way better than anything we have come up with. You can pray for 40 deaf people and if only 1 in 40 is healed, that is one more person than if you pray for none. I am rejoicing in the Lord and His humor. I encourage you to step out in faith and have crazy courage!
I pray for those of you reading this blog that the wind of God will spread fire to your hears and the hearts of many. We were never meant to just occupy space and exist. You and I were created to burn and pierce. Lets abandon hiding and run to the front lines of battle together. We are not meant to live in fear and defeat. We have the mighty God who created the heavens and earth on our side! Do you believe this or not? Jesus, rise up in us and rage a burning fire of faith and courage in us!!!
