The Healing Presence of Jesus

November 24, 2009 — apprentice2jesus

The Church should be about the healing presence of Jesus. My wife told me about a dream she had, and then I was reminded of two incredible stories in Acts. In Acts 5 it was Peter walking down a street and people could be healed by Peter’s shadow touching them. In Acts 19 it was Paul working at his trade. People would take work items from him and bring them to the sick and demon possessed… and they were healed.

It wasn’t Peter. It wasn’t Paul. It was the healing presence of Jesus. That should be the Church. We are to be so saturated with the Spirit that at any time the presence of Jesus touches infirmities and healing can flow. All kinds of healing. Not just physical healing. The Church is to bring the healing balm to the nations. We are to be the place of peace. Come around the Church and you find wholeness and healing.

We need that healing presence of Jesus flowing from us!

Posted in Church, Church Life, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Spiritual gifts, Spiritual hunger. Tags: , , . 1 Comment »

The Systems Are in Place…

September 11, 2009 — apprentice2jesus

Over the past few months I have been preaching on the Holy Spirit. One of the key areas of Spirit-filled life I’ve examined is Acts 2:42. The Early Church had a “system” to catch what the Spirit was doing in their lives.

1. The apostles’ teaching

2. Fellowship

3. The breaking of bread (which I think emphasizes the Lord’s Table)

4. Prayers

These forms came out of their Jewish heritage. They were already in place and God had set it up for them. It’s a good lesson! There are basic things we need in our lives and too often we’re out looking for God to do a “new thing.”

What I wonder is this: There may be a need for a “new thing” in how these disciplines look in our lives. Maybe THAT is the “new thing.” So, how do I lead my church in a way where the power of the Spirit is touching us and we have these “systems” in place?

What forms do we take on that are useful for our day? For teaching, for fellowship, for the Table, for Prayers. What do we, as a church, create to make sure we are capturing in our lives what the Spirit is doing?

Posted in Bible Study, Church, Discipleship/Spiritual Formation, Holy Spirit, Leadership, Ministry, Pentecost, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual gifts. 2 Comments »

February 13, 2009 — apprentice2jesus

The Strange Things We Do “Under the Anointing”

Richard Foster gives several perils of the Charismatic tradition in his book, Streams of Living Water. Too often, the perils are far too numerous to even think about! Over the years I think I’ve heard just about everything. But then… Yes! There are always stranger things! Lee Grady has a column in Charisma (a magazine I religiously avoid, but found a link to it on another blog) where he details yet a few more Charismatic abuses.

My favorite paragraph was about angels among us:

During the Lakeland Revival last year in Florida, a man from Germany took the stage and claimed that an angel walked into a restaurant while he was eating a hamburger, took his intestines out and replaced them with a gold substance. Others have testified that angels took them to heaven and operated on them. And many are claiming that angels are dropping feathers, gold dust and precious gems on worshippers.

It is no wonder teachers like John MacArthur can write books like Charismatic Chaos. The examples are so numerous, you really could fill a book.

There is a need for discernment in our lives. It is first and foremost JESUS CHRIST: his life, death and resurrection. It is about HIS good news…for the world. I am just not sure how my golden intestines become good news for the world…

There is a true power of the Spirit! There ARE healings, miracles, and so much more that is legitimate! Let’s follow Jesus and avoid this “strange fire.”

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