Famished For a Move

Proverbs 27:7 “A sated man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.” I was surprised to read this morning in The Essential Guide to Healing that despite growing up in a family of pastors, Bill Johnson had no intention of ever going into ministry himself. He didn’t have any of the gifts, and he certainly didn’t have any of the interest. His parents thought Bill’s brother might be a pastor, but their goal for Bill was that he “would make it into heaven.” But when his family moved to Redding California, Bill Johnson started to hear various speakers popping through town. One of them particularly resonated and his message was simple: Be absolutely abandoned to Christ. “One Saturday night, alone, I finally said yes to God-the absolute yes. For me, everything changed that night.” Anyone who follows Jesus has said yes to God, but many who have said the sinners prayer aren’t absolutely abandoned to Christ. Yet that is what Jesus calls us to when he says we are to love him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. A total and singular desperation for God is what is required, and we can see that when we say the absolute yes, God begins to use us in absolutely astounding ways. Despite lacking gifts and motivation, God used Bill Johnson to inspire revival in millions of people around the world. He’s a man not without controversy similar to most men and women in the midst of spiritual revival (prophets of scripture included). But one thing is undeniable, he is absolutely famished for a move of God. He says it this way. “Many people miss out on a move of God because they are not hungry enough. Only the desperate think that an imperfect, incomplete move of God is wonderful. Starving people think a crust of bread is a meal. Most seem to want a move of God without problems or messes. Moves of God just do not come that way.” Lord, thank you for being a loving Father. Please stir up a hunger for you in me and in those around me. You are perfect, but sometimes when you move it might be imperfect because you’re dealing with imperfect people. I pray that I can look past the flaws, forgive my transgressors and cast my eyes upon you alone. All I need is you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Healing Conference

Luke 7:22 "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

I’ve had this book in my kindle for some time called “The Essential Guide to Healing: Equipping All Christians to Pray for The Sick” by Randy Clark and Bill Johnson. Given what’s happened to my friend, I figured it was a good time to get around and start reading it. Randy Clark opens the book with some experiences that increased his faith for healing. One day, God called Randy to hold a healing conference.

“When the conference began at my Baptist Church, I was shocked by how many pastors and leaders came. We were packed out. I had written a letter to all the Baptist pastors in Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri… The letter began ‘If you, like me, are tired of going to the hospital and praying for God to guide the surgeon’s hand, then I invite you to a conference on healing. I have invited people from the Anaheim Vineyard, who are seeing more healings and who can help us learn how to more effectively pray for the sick…’

I will never forget my first impressions of that conference. The leader, Blaine Cook, was tremendously gifted with words of knowledge… People came forward for prayer, and many were healed. The pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chilliocothe, Illinois, fell at my wife’s feet. He got up healed of a serious back injury from a car accident, removed the half-inch lift from his shoe and threw it away. The deaf heard, sight was greatly improved and many people were healed of pain.”

Somehow a deep desire to see this kind of move of God has stirred in my heart today.

Lord, I pray for supernatural healing. I pray for a movement of the Holy Spirit. I pray for covering for my brother and for his family today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pleading For a Friend

Job 16:21 “… on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” This afternoon Elaine had a call scheduled with a friend of ours. He didn’t show up and his teammate didn’t know why. He’s one of the most reliable guys we know, and it was really out of character for him. While on the call Elaine got a message informing her that this friend had been found drowned and was resuscitated after an hour. They brought him to the emergency room and he’s currently in a coma. The doctors can’t be sure about the extent of brain damage, but at least from a worldly perspective, it doesn’t look good. He’s been a prayer buddy of mine for many years, and I can say this devotion might not even be around if it weren’t for him. So I feel it’s only appropriate to send out a post asking for you to say a prayer for our friend. Lord, I beg you to cover this brother and his family today. I can’t understand why these things happen, but I know you love him to bits. Please show your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.