Part of what the ministry does here is they invite a variety of different teams to come out here to assist in the various ministry projects they have going on. For example, when we arrived there was a team of about 16 men from the US who came here through Adventures in Missions and helped with the construction of the community center being built in what could be considered the poorest and most dangerous area of Granada, Nicaragua; as well as, joining the team in the community to pray and build relations with the locals in the area. When they left, another team of men from the US arrived to do about the same. Then a team of El Salvadorans arrived to hold a conference in the city and now a team from the US with a focus on inner healing.
This group of married men and women originate in Southern IL (Carbondale area) and their method looks into the deep emotion and spiritual issues of an issue and bring them to the light. They then focus on that area and speak the truth of the Gospel into that area of their life until true healing manifests and results in open space in the individuals spirit for the Holy Spirit to fill rather than any fear or expectation from the world. It’s much more intricate, but that’s my quick crash course after a day of knowing them.
Anyway, last night this group did a little orientation/prayer/healing session. The lesson was meant to introduce themselves and show a little of what they do. What ensued was a spectacle of healing that would make any hospital in the world extremely envious! People with physical ailments that they have had for as long as they can remember simply evaporate before their very eyes. Chronic back pain, cured; arthritis, cured; deafness, cured; near-blindedness, cured! Let me reiterate the fact that this is the power given by the Holy Spirit. Without faith, none of these works would be possible. With faith, anything can be done. Lazarus was not an anomaly. He was not just a story. He is a very real picture of God’s power which is alive and well today and not limited to a non-fiction storybook!
Imma stop preaching for a minute and tell you my part of this story. God spoke to me saying that I must “go last”. At the end, they had us all form a line so they could go and pray over us all individually, so I went to the end of the line. I got a backseat to witness all the work the Holy Spirit was doing in every person in front of me. When it came to my turn, they put their hands on me and reiterated what I had been told for months by about a dozen different people; God has incredible work going on in and work to do through you! They prophesied that I was called to the nations (duh, right!? ????).
The next thing was a doubt or worry I’d been having. I’ve been having a random worry about the woman I would marry and it’s become a bit of a distraction. After their previous prophesy, I felt the Lord tell me not to worry and that He had her hand picked for me. Moments after I got this word reassured by the men and women before me by adding that God was working in her at this very moment just as He was working in me.
To end the night, I felt the Holy Spirit fill me with His power and for those that don’t know what that is like a tingling sensation takes over your body and you feel physically hot like when a primed hand warmer hits your nearly frostbitten skin. It’s a feeling of pure power! And it is what the Bible will say happens to some of the apostles prior to them doing amazing spiritual works like healing, speaking in tongues, miracles, etc. I tell you this to testify to the fact that we serve a God that is ALIVE and well! His power and miracles did not run out in the time of Jesus or the apostles but rather holds true to this day! Believe in Him. Believe in His power. Believe in the sacrifice that was given by Jesus for us all. And truly follow Him! Be willing to give up your house, your job, your boat, your comfort and stability because I promise you that the Bible does not lie when it says He is better!
