So it's been a phenomenal venture thus far in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
I've held a baby sheep, touched a real castle, stood among the stones of a natural world wonder known as Giant's Causeway, eaten delicious meal after meal, witnessed traditional Irish dancing, had a man play the accordion for us, found some long lost relatives, made tons of new friends who all have awesome accents, witnessed children being bold in their faith, and SO much more.
Out of all of the amazing things I've been able to do so far, I am most excited about the level of faith and worship that Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast Vineyard church has brought me.
I've witnessed such a bold faith to live out loud that it is hard for me to keep quiet any longer…
I LOVE LOVE LOVE MY GOD!!!!!
Chidren are paving the way to a better future here in Coleraine.
They are praying boldly with authority for healing. For hope. For love.
They are leading worship. Leading prayer. Leading men and women to Christ.
Lord, it is my prayer to have the faith and boldness of a child.
No matter how old I am, I will always be Your child. You take me by the hand and lead me across the busy streets. You blow on my food if it's too hot. You correct me with the love of a Father. You are my daddy!
Such love that only a parent could understand in full. But a love that I am beginning to understand deeper and deeper. I can't wait to have a family of my own.
I skyped with my parents the other night and witnessed how God is not only moving mountains in my life, but in their lives as well. I challenged them to grieve. I challenged them to live fully free in the authority that Christ has placed in them through the giftings of the Holy Spirit.
For far too long the Holy Spirit has been enslaved in our hearts and souls as unbelieving Christians.
Breaking the chains and setting free that authority has become the mission for myself. Already He is wrecking me. Destroying the old me. Creating a new me that is full of HIM!
So I used the term unbelieving Christians. What exactly does that mean?
We as believers have LIMITED the power and authority placed in us by the Holy Spirit.
We learn about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but we seem to only focus on our relationship with the Father and the Son. We aren't taught to operate fully in the Holy Spirirt that has been placed inside us.
Scripture after scripture mentions being empowered by the Holy Spirit, but we don't seem to be encouraged to operate in those giftings.
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." – Matthew 10:8
We are commanded to do these things, but we so often choose to avoid living out these very commands.
We more often petition to God to do these things for us. But why?
Again, God COMMANDED things things of us. So He empowered us to do these things. So there is no need to pray "if it's Your will God." His will is for us to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse skin diseases, and cast out demons. So when you feel led to pray healing over someone. Do it in Jesus name. Don't ask Him to heal. Don't command God to heal. Rather, command the mountain to move.
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." – Matthew 17:20
And take a look at this…
"50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people." – Matthew 27:50-53
So when Jesus "gave up His spirit," He sent it out into all of the world. The veil was torn because now, the Holy Spirit can dwell among us…IN us.
Verse 52 even shows how powerful His Spirit is. It raised the dead to life! That same Spirit that now dwells in us as believers is a gift. An honor. A calling. A choice.
YOU are God's hands! So heal!
YOU are God's voice! So prophecy!
YOU are God's feet! So go!
Obey the commands. His commands.
Live complete in the authority of the Holy Spirit in you!
