Oct 02 2008
It’s Time to Expect Glorious Things to Happen in Church.
This teaching is an excerpt from our Radio Antioch Podcast, Episode 3.
When I pray for people, I expect them to be healed, and we see it frequently. I don’t want to make some kind of formula out of it. Sometimes we pray for people and we don’t see immediate results. Recently, when preaching one Sunday, I asked the congregation how many had ever been healed by God after being prayed for in a church service. At least half of the people raised their hands. My comments to the others: If you are believing for a healing, then be encouraged, because all of these people are testifying that God still heals today.
How many of you believe that signs, wonders and healings are all for the church today? The world will tell you that these things don’t happen any more, or worse yet, that they never did happen. There are even entire denominations that through their interpretation of a few scriptures, argue that these things are no longer part of the church. They say that there are no more prophesies, no more words of knowledge, no more of that type of “Now” interaction between God and man.
Here is where I have a problem with their interpretation- If you hand a bible to a student and ask them what the overwhelming theme of the Bible is, they might say “God wants to talk to and interact with man”. The Bible is NOTHING BUT stories where God interacted with man. Story after story of God interacting with man. Through good times, and bad, righteousness and sin, in victory and in times of defeat, the scriptures point to God’s desire to touch man with the supernatural life of heaven. You don’t have to have a Doctorate in Theology to see that this theme is seen over and over in scripture.
And yet the world would have us believe that nothing glorious happens as a Christian. But the scripture say exactly the opposite. The Bible is full of surprising stories. How many of you have been surprised by God’s goodness and kindness revealed to you in your life? I know many. But do you expect it? I am slowly beginning to expect God to intervene in my life in surprising ways. Each new church project, each mission trip stretches my faith a little bit- But on the other side of each event, I have a testimony that builds up my faith.
Eph. 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Think about what this means: Not only have we been created by God to do good things, but some of these things God prepared in advance for us to do! I challenge you to analyze some of the events in your life in light of this scripture. Perhaps God used the same event not only to grow you as a person, but to allow you to bless somebody else as you work through the challenges. God is so awesome that he can take a challenging situation, that the world would say is bad news, and use it to grow you up as an example of his workmanship, while you bless your neighbor at the same time. I find this exhilarating!
Furthermore, God has prepared in advance things for us to do. Not only does God want to interact with us, He has plans to do so, and they are part of the plans for our lives. Interactions with God are not only expected, they are also part of the Master plan! It is time for us to begin to expect the supernatural life of heaven to manifest in our lives.
Photo by Jullian Robinson used with permission.
Hi David,
I really believe in the power of physical healing through Christ.
Please pray that my daughter Sarah is healed of her Autism. This is truly a “mystery disease”; no one knows what causes it, or how to cure, or even treat it. We are blessed that Sarah is on the mild end of the scale, but I would love to see her completely free.
Last year, I went to David Wilkerson’s church, Times Square Church in NYC (and I’d love to tell you about the service there). The teaching was praying and believing, and at the end of service I was led to go down for prayer for Sarah and my son, Josh. I heard a message from the LORD that their healing was already accomplished, and that I needed to rest in that. Well, I’m feeling like Abraham now; after over a year, I’m still waiting.
Please keep my family in prayer. I recognize how blessed we have been; I just want to see the LORD move in our lives!
Joe
The reason we haven’t is because we still don’t know who we are! What peasant would expect the privileges of royalty?
The bible is more than just interaction with God, it’s about relationship with Him. And our relationship is the ultimate one. Think of it, every positive relationship on the planet, that’s what we share with our God.
Father-child
Sibling
Neighbor
Friend
SPOUSE!
We are Mrs. Jesus!
My wife, who is now called by my name, knows everything I have is hers. She does not pause to wonder if she can write a check using the Hill name. No way!
If we would truly get the reality of what the bible tells us, that we who are called by His name, have the authority and power of Jesus including the power to declare “Be healed”.
Just as my wife knows that she is one with me, the church needs to get that we are one with Him. When that happens
Roger-
This is exactly what I mean when I say “learning what it means to be “In Christ”.
I like your analogy…Perhaps many Christians are like a newlywed bride…She might know intellectually that all their spouse has is hers, but it takes time before she really knows how to live in that truth. Old ways of thinking take time to fade.
Blessings,
Dave
Hi Joe.
I believe that you heard God on this, and will stand with you in prayer for the healing of your family.
One reason that I think that you heard correctly is that the answer you received was not an easy one….That God has provided for the healing, but you have to rest in Him until the time that you see it. Essentially, the answer is “yes”, but the time is “not yet”. Like Abraham, who was also passionate concerning his family, you find the waiting tough. But Isaac, the child of the promise came at the perfect time. I encourage you to keep reminding God about this promise, and strive to learn how to rest in God’s promise.
I would love to hear about the service at the Times Square church….drop us a note on it sometime.
Blessings,
Dave
Here’s my “Times Square Church Experience”
Last summer, I went on a work trip to a conference in midtown Manhattan. It was a Tuesday night, and when I called my wife, she encouraged me to find Times Square church and go to a mid-week service, as a friend of ours told her it was a great church.
Well, I just wasn’t in the mood to go, but being a dutiful husband, I looked on their website.
To my surprise, the midweek service was on Tuesday, not Wednesday, as I supposed. Once again resisting the temptation to just grab a dinner in the hotel, I grabbed my bible and journal and headed down to the church.
Well, it was packed, with over 1000 people easy. The worship was just concluding when I got there, and it was a praisefest!
After the offering, the guest preacher got up, and he talked about faith. It was powerful preaching; he told a story about the time that he had Corrie ten Boom at the church, and that she wanted to go to a famous deli in Manhattan. The preacher told her that there was no way that they would get a free parking space, and that parking would be at least $20. Corrie said “that money can help the poor, let’s pray that we can find a good spot to park for free.” Lo and behold, when they approached the deli, someone was just pulling out!
Anyway, at the end of the service there was an altar call for those who wanted more faith in their lives. The altars were packed with people; I only got about 30 feet from the front in the aisle.
I prayed that the LORD would grant me peace to know that Sarah (and my son Josh, who is developmentally delayed) would grow strong in the LORD. I made a vow to God that they would both be dedicated to Him.
The LORD said back to me, “it is already done, your children are already healed. Just wait on my promise”. It was so clear, it was almost audible!
I am so thankful that He led me, through my wife, to this divine appointment with Him. Praise God!
Probably one of the best dinners you passed up. Great example of the way God blesses our obedience. Very happy for you and your family.
Thanks Ron! I hope all is well with you and your family.
Joe