Today I witnessed 4 legs and 2 arms grow. No, you’re not delusional, nor am I-I did say I saw limbs grow and I am speaking the truth. It happened right before my very eyes. Healing on the Streets is a regular part of the Vineyard’s ministry and is a staple of the team’s Saturday. Rain or shine the healing team finds themselves at the town centre, chairs in place, banner held high, ready for the Lord to begin His healing amongst the people of Coleraine. They do not go and seek out people; they simply wait to be sought out. People come, sit in the chairs, and receive prayers. They are reminded of how much the Lord loves them and slowly but surely healing occurs. Sometimes, as I witnessed much of today, the healing is instantaneous and the person walks away completely changed. Other times, like in the case of a woman named Sarah, the healing is gradual and only some healing occurs, while the Lord continues to heal in His time, not ours. Still other times, people will come, be prayed for and no signs of healing will occur only to find later, God heals them, either instantaneously or gradually. Regardless of how it happens, healing does take place. Every time.
I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical at first, like many of us were…until I saw the first leg grow that is. To see limbs grow before your very eyes, wow! There are just no words for it. I’ll admit I still didn’t know that it could work for me when I sat down, hoping my knee pain could get healed. When I sat down though, not only did the pain of my knee go but also the pain of a rough morning, the pain of things I’ve still been holding on to, and everything else. I didn’t want to get up from that chair. I was just overcome with this huge sense of peace and it took every bit of energy to pick myself up, not because I was still in pain, but because I was so overwhelmed with the Spirit of God.
As I stood around, a woman named Sarah came forward and sat in one of the chairs. I instantly felt drawn to go pray with her, only to find out she had come to be healed of depression. I prayed and I prayed, “Lord, free her like you freed me. Free her like you freed me. Free her like you freed me…” Like a broken record I simply cried out to God for this lady whom I had never met before, as the rest of the team reassured her of her love, her worth, and continued to pray as well. Throughout it all, my hands started to burn up, something that happens occasionally to me, and I knew I could not leave this woman until I physically touched her. As I knelt at her side, I continued to cry out to God, “Free her like you freed me,” when finally the moment came, I shook her hand and placed my other arm on her shoulder. In that moment I could feel not only the warmth of my hands, but the heat that was radiating from her. Healing is taking place in this woman. I know that when school starts in September (she was a teacher), she will walk in there free. Her faith has made her well.
The afternoon continued to go well. I got stung by a bee on the thumb. I didn’t really care. I met Linda, a woman from Dublin who’s originally from the Philippines, and we had a great conversation about Filipinos and how much they like to feed people! She was such a sweet woman and is actually going to come to the Church service tomorrow thanks to the fact that she just happened to sit down next to Lindsay and me on the bench. I can’t wait to see her and get to know her even more!
This entire experience has just been amazing and has strengthened my faith immensely. From healing on the streets to praying for water to change to wine (ask and maybe I’ll tell that story some other time), the conviction and faith of this group has been incredible and has only intensified my own faith. I cannot wait to see how this year continues to strengthen my faith and what the Lord continues to do through this group. Oh and we were told once again today that we would raise the dead (from somebody different). This is started to become a regular prophesy…
For anyone still doubting this whole growing limbs thing, watch this video. It’s the raw footage of Mike‘s healing shot by Ashley. Make sure you watch the arm grow especially! It’ll seriously blow your mind!
Oh and actually, you can just read about the whole water to wine thing in Ashley’s blog post
