Release the healing virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ into someone's sick body.

Declare peace into a chaotic situation.

Take authority over the demons in control of someone's life.

Go on...I dare ya! More importantly, God dares ya. So does Satan. Far too often, God's people are bound with fear. We're afraid of looking stupid. What if the sick person dies? What if they ridicule us? "I'm no prophet," one might say to themselves, "...who do I think I am anyway?" With that kind of logic, what if a baseball player never swings his bat for fear of striking out? What if he DOES swing and belts a home run?

In Philippians 1:20, Paul writes, "According to my earnest expectations and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all BOLDNESS, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death." Paul was not merely HOPING to glorify God with his actions; he EXPECTED that God would use him whenever he stepped out in faith. He was "fully persuaded" (Rom 4:21) that God had power to do what He said He would do.

Are WE fully persuaded?

Are YOU?

GOD @ WORK

Recently, I was inspired by an article I'd read about persecuted Chinese Christians who will go into an area and actually ask to see the most sickly person in town. Their God-ordained strategy? When this person is healed, others will come to believe.

So, armed with the confidence which that article had inspired, while visiting another facility

The Wednesday Bible study was one I've been teaching for years. I call it "Jesus Said." It's nothing but the words of Jesus as they apply to various topics: Faith, Love, Forgiveness, Healing, Demons, etc. I've taught that series to high schoolers, collegians, business people and the elderly. In every case, the groups are denominationally mixed and there has never been any head-butting over doctrine.

None.

Something marvelous happened to those Baptist kids. They began to desire spiritual gifts. They began laying hands on people as they ministered to them. They received the Gift of Tongues. They acquired a boldness the likes of which I've never seen, speaking about Jesus all the time, studying their Bibles, asking questions. They became radical!

One young man proudly testified that his mom said he wasn't a very good Baptist anymore. I think he preferred being an effective Christian.

On one occasion, while I was cleaning the church, a young man abruptly shut off his vacuum cleaner and bellowed, "What's happening to everybody?!" He began ranting about how all his Baptist friends are acting "different," running through a list of spiritual activities he had witnessed, highlighting the bold behavior of one young lady who had previously been the poster child for shyness.

Their lives were changing. They were excited about the new life they'd found in Christ. It was contagious. Some are now serving in ministry. Most are serving God in one context or another, stronger than they ever had.

My reason for writing this message is simple: I want people in the Baptist ranks to be made aware - as these kids were - that there's more!

MUCH more!

MY STORY

When I was diagnosed with a hereditary spinal disease at age 28, I became desperate. I began asking many people of various Christian flavors to pray for me. It was only when I permitted those who believed in the laying on of hands and anointing with oil to do so that I began to experience results. These days, my doctor says I have a "textbook spine." I'm 47 as I write after having been told I would be immobilized by the time I was fifty. In fact, on New Year's Eve 2001, I moved to Stephenville, Texas to be closer to my children so that I could get help washing clothes, carrying groceries, etc. I had no job, knew no one, but quit a good-paying job and relocated out of desperation.

These days, I travel in different circles. I am a staunch supporter of the burgeoning House Church movement and I write and speak in homes in regard to this topic. I am also a Non-denominational Workplace Chaplain, traveling to ten Nursing Home facilities throughout the state, responsible for the spiritual growth of over 500 employees throughout North Central Texas.

One afternoon, while returning home from a day at my firm's Grand Saline, Texas facility, I received a call from a man in Washington State. He prefaced his conversation by stating that he was a Member of the Church of Christ and, after reading something I had written online, felt that he should call me. He related a story of how, as his mother lay dying in ICU ten years ago, two women came by asking if they could pray for and anoint her with oil. Her physician had just warned the family that their family's beloved matriarch would not make it through the night. Reluctantly - but out of desperation - the man's father decided to allow the two women to pray. The next day, fully expecting that his mother had expired during the evening, he walked up behind the physician who turned around, smiled broadly, hugged him "like a long-lost brother," and tearfully exclaimed, "She's gonna live!"

Ten years later, she's still alive.

My personal contention is that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is available to everyone with the faith to step out and submit themselves to Him for Kingdom use. In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus encourages us with these words, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I have found that those who dare to ask are the individuals who understand that, whether God chooses to heal a person through their ministry or not, whether the prophetic utterance one dares to speak is true, whether one's Word of Knowledge is appropriate or not, the worst that can happen is that they completely miss God. The one being prayed for may die. The one they prophesied over may have no witness whatsoever to what was said. Oh, well...in those cases, the one who stepped out in faith is now stronger for having exercised their faith muscles. In those moments when they DO experience what co-laboring with God is all about, their faith and confidence grow and, well...watch out, devil!

The best that could happen? Isn't it obvious? Sick people will be healed, people will be amazed and put their trust in God, a prophetic word will edify, exhort and comfort, just like all New Testament prophecy is SUPPOSED to, etc. But if all of us choose to do NOTHING, guess what will happen?

Nothing!

ALLOWING GOD TO TAKE PART IN OUR FAITH

Romans 8:11 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us. Let Him out! Work WITH God. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, the apostle Paul reminds us, "...we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building."

Release the healing virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ into someone's sick body.

Declare peace into a chaotic situation.

Take authority over the demons in control of someone's life.

Go on...I dare ya! More importantly, God dares ya. So does Satan. Far too often, God's people are bound with fear. We're afraid of looking stupid. What if the sick person dies? What if they ridicule us? "I'm no prophet," one might say to themselves, "...who do I think I am anyway?" With that kind of logic, what if a baseball player never swings his bat for fear of striking out? What if he DOES swing and belts a home run?

In Philippians 1:20, Paul writes, "According to my earnest expectations and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all BOLDNESS, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death." Paul was not merely HOPING to glorify God with his actions; he EXPECTED that God would use him whenever he stepped out in faith. He was "fully persuaded" (Rom 4:21) that God had power to do what He said He would do.

Are WE fully persuaded?

Are YOU?

GOD @ WORK

Recently, I was inspired by an article I'd read about persecuted Chinese Christians who will go into an area and actually ask to see the most sickly person in town. Their God-ordained strategy? When this person is healed, others will come to believe.

So, armed with the confidence which that article had inspired, while visiting another facility,

Their lives were changing. They were excited about the new life they'd found in Christ. It was contagious. Some are now serving in ministry. Most are serving God in one context or another, stronger than they ever had.

My reason for writing this message is simple: I want people in the Baptist ranks to be made aware - as these kids were - that there's more!

MUCH more!

MY STORY

When I was diagnosed with a hereditary spinal disease at age 28, I became desperate. I began asking many people of various Christian flavors to pray for me. It was only when I permitted those who believed in the laying on of hands and anointing with oil to do so that I began to experience results. These days, my doctor says I have a "textbook spine." I'm 47 as I write after having been told I would be immobilized by the time I was fifty. In fact, on New Year's Eve 2001, I moved to Stephenville, Texas to be closer to my children so that I could get help washing clothes, carrying groceries, etc. I had no job, knew no one, but quit a good-paying job and relocated out of desperation.

These days, I travel in different circles. I am a staunch supporter of the burgeoning House Church movement and I write and speak in homes in regard to this topic. I am also a Non-denominational Workplace Chaplain, traveling to ten Nursing Home facilities throughout the state, responsible for the spiritual growth of over 500 employees throughout North Central Texas.

One afternoon, while returning home from a day at my firm's Grand Saline, Texas facility, I received a call from a man in Washington State. He prefaced his conversation by stating that he was a Member of the Church of Christ and, after reading something I had written online, felt that he should call me. He related a story of how, as his mother lay dying in ICU ten years ago, two women came by asking if they could pray for and anoint her with oil. Her physician had just warned the family that their family's beloved matriarch would not make it through the night. Reluctantly - but out of desperation - the man's father decided to allow the two women to pray. The next day, fully expecting that his mother had expired during the evening, he walked up behind the physician who turned around, smiled broadly, hugged him "like a long-lost brother," and tearfully exclaimed, "She's gonna live!"

Ten years later, she's still alive.

My personal contention is that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is available to everyone with the faith to step out and submit themselves to Him for Kingdom use. In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus encourages us with these words, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I have found that those who dare to ask are the individuals who understand that, whether God chooses to heal a person through their ministry or not, whether the prophetic utterance one dares to speak is true, whether one's Word of Knowledge is appropriate or not, the worst that can happen is that they completely miss God. The one being prayed for may die. The one they prophesied over may have no witness whatsoever to what was said. Oh, well...in those cases, the one who stepped out in faith is now stronger for having exercised their faith muscles. In those moments when they DO experience what co-laboring with God is all about, their faith and confidence grow and, well...watch out, devil!

The best that could happen? Isn't it obvious? Sick people will be healed, people will be amazed and put their trust in God, a prophetic word will edify, exhort and comfort, just like all New Testament prophecy is SUPPOSED to, etc. But if all of us choose to do NOTHING, guess what will happen?

Nothing!

ALLOWING GOD TO TAKE PART IN OUR FAITH

Romans 8:11 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us. Let Him out! Work WITH God. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, the apostle Paul reminds us, "...we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building."

Release the healing virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ into someone's sick body.

Declare peace into a chaotic situation.

Take authority over the demons in control of someone's life.

Go on...I dare ya! More importantly, God dares ya. So does Satan. Far too often, God's people are bound with fear. We're afraid of looking stupid. What if the sick person dies? What if they ridicule us? "I'm no prophet," one might say to themselves, "...who do I think I am anyway?" With that kind of logic, what if a baseball player never swings his bat for fear of striking out? What if he DOES swing and belts a home run?

In Philippians 1:20, Paul writes, "According to my earnest expectations and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all BOLDNESS, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death." Paul was not merely HOPING to glorify God with his actions; he EXPECTED that God would use him whenever he stepped out in faith. He was "fully persuaded" (Rom 4:21) that God had power to do what He said He would do.

Are WE fully persuaded?

Are YOU?

GOD @ WORK

Recently, I was inspired by an article I'd read about persecuted Chinese Christians who will go into an area and actually ask to see the most sickly person in town. Their God-ordained strategy? When this person is healed, others will come to believe.

So, armed with the confidence which that article had inspired, while visiting another facility

One afternoon, while returning home from a day at my firm's Grand Saline, Texas facility, I received a call from a man in Washington State. He prefaced his conversation by stating that he was a Member of the Church of Christ and, after reading something I had written online, felt that he should call me. He related a story of how, as his mother lay dying in ICU ten years ago, two women came by asking if they could pray for and anoint her with oil. Her physician had just warned the family that their family's beloved matriarch would not make it through the night. Reluctantly - but out of desperation - the man's father decided to allow the two women to pray. The next day, fully expecting that his mother had expired during the evening, he walked up behind the physician who turned around, smiled broadly, hugged him "like a long-lost brother," and tearfully exclaimed, "She's gonna live!"

Ten years later, she's still alive.

My personal contention is that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is available to everyone with the faith to step out and submit themselves to Him for Kingdom use. In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus encourages us with these words, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I have found that those who dare to ask are the individuals who understand that, whether God chooses to heal a person through their ministry or not, whether the prophetic utterance one dares to speak is true, whether one's Word of Knowledge is appropriate or not, the worst that can happen is that they completely miss God. The one being prayed for may die. The one they prophesied over may have no witness whatsoever to what was said. Oh, well...in those cases, the one who stepped out in faith is now stronger for having exercised their faith muscles. In those moments when they DO experience what co-laboring with God is all about, their faith and confidence grow and, well...watch out, devil!

The best that could happen? Isn't it obvious? Sick people will be healed, people will be amazed and put their trust in God, a prophetic word will edify, exhort and comfort, just like all New Testament prophecy is SUPPOSED to, etc. But if all of us choose to do NOTHING, guess what will happen?

Nothing!

ALLOWING GOD TO TAKE PART IN OUR FAITH

Romans 8:11 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us. Let Him out! Work WITH God. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, the apostle Paul reminds us, "...we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building."

Release the healing virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ into someone's sick body.

Declare peace into a chaotic situation.

Take authority over the demons in control of someone's life.

Go on...I dare ya! More importantly, God dares ya. So does Satan. Far too often, God's people are bound with fear. We're afraid of looking stupid. What if the sick person dies? What if they ridicule us? "I'm no prophet," one might say to themselves, "...who do I think I am anyway?" With that kind of logic, what if a baseball player never swings his bat for fear of striking out? What if he DOES swing and belts a home run?

In Philippians 1:20, Paul writes, "According to my earnest expectations and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all BOLDNESS, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death." Paul was not merely HOPING to glorify God with his actions; he EXPECTED that God would use him whenever he stepped out in faith. He was "fully persuaded" (Rom 4:21) that God had power to do what He said He would do.

Are WE fully persuaded?

Are YOU?

GOD @ WORK

Recently, I was inspired by an article I'd read about persecuted Chinese Christians who will go into an area and actually ask to see the most sickly person in town. Their God-ordained strategy? When this person is healed, others will come to believe.

So, armed with the confidence which that article had inspired, while visiting another facility

I have found that those who dare to ask are the individuals who understand that, whether God chooses to heal a person through their ministry or not, whether the prophetic utterance one dares to speak is true, whether one's Word of Knowledge is appropriate or not, the worst that can happen is that they completely miss God. The one being prayed for may die. The one they prophesied over may have no witness whatsoever to what was said. Oh, well...in those cases, the one who stepped out in faith is now stronger for having exercised their faith muscles. In those moments when they DO experience what co-laboring with God is all about, their faith and confidence grow and, well...watch out, devil!

The best that could happen? Isn't it obvious? Sick people will be healed, people will be amazed and put their trust in God, a prophetic word will edify, exhort and comfort, just like all New Testament prophecy is SUPPOSED to, etc. But if all of us choose to do NOTHING, guess what will happen?

Nothing!

ALLOWING GOD TO TAKE PART IN OUR FAITH

Romans 8:11 tells us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us. Let Him out! Work WITH God. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, the apostle Paul reminds us, "...we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building."

Release the healing virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ into someone's sick body.

Declare peace into a chaotic situation.

Take authority over the demons in control of someone's life.

Go on...I dare ya! More importantly, God dares ya. So does Satan. Far too often, God's people are bound with fear. We're afraid of looking stupid. What if the sick person dies? What if they ridicule us? "I'm no prophet," one might say to themselves, "...who do I think I am anyway?" With that kind of logic, what if a baseball player never swings his bat for fear of striking out? What if he DOES swing and belts a home run?

In Philippians 1:20, Paul writes, "According to my earnest expectations and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all BOLDNESS, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death." Paul was not merely HOPING to glorify God with his actions; he EXPECTED that God would use him whenever he stepped out in faith. He was "fully persuaded" (Rom 4:21) that God had power to do what He said He would do.

Are WE fully persuaded?

Are YOU?

GOD @ WORK

Recently, I was inspired by an article I'd read about persecuted Chinese Christians who will go into an area and actually ask to see the most sickly person in town. Their God-ordained strategy? When this person is healed, others will come to believe.

So, armed with the confidence which that article had inspired, while visiting another facility

Release the healing virtues of the Lord Jesus Christ into someone's sick body.

Declare peace into a chaotic situation.

Take authority over the demons in control of someone's life.

Go on...I dare ya! More importantly, God dares ya. So does Satan. Far too often, God's people are bound with fear. We're afraid of looking stupid. What if the sick person dies? What if they ridicule us? "I'm no prophet," one might say to themselves, "...who do I think I am anyway?" With that kind of logic, what if a baseball player never swings his bat for fear of striking out? What if he DOES swing and belts a home run?

In Philippians 1:20, Paul writes, "According to my earnest expectations and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all BOLDNESS, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death." Paul was not merely HOPING to glorify God with his actions; he EXPECTED that God would use him whenever he stepped out in faith. He was "fully persuaded" (Rom 4:21) that God had power to do what He said He would do.

Are WE fully persuaded?

Are YOU?

GOD @ WORK

Recently, I was inspired by an article I'd read about persecuted Chinese Christians who will go into an area and actually ask to see the most sickly person in town. Their God-ordained strategy? When this person is healed, others will come to believe.

So, armed with the confidence which that article had inspired, while visiting another facility, I asked to see the sickest person there. I was directed to a man named Curtis who, I was told, was dying. I was informed that he was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and his family was there with him. After speaking words of faith and encouragement to his relatives, testifying to the healing power of God in my own life and in the lives of others I know, the family agreed to allow me to lay hands upon their beloved Curtis and pray. In fact, at my request, they encircled his bed and laid hands upon him with me. There were tears as I prayed and hugs and expressions of gratitude as I left Curtis in God's hands.

God's presence was in that room. No, Curtis didn't get up and walk. Not at that moment anyway. Let's face it, even the Ten Lepers were healed "as they went" while the woman with the issue of blood was healed instantly and a blind man needed prayer twice. Jesus couldn't do much in His own hometown and had to clear the room of faithless people in order to raise Jairus's daughter back to life. Curtis is in his 80's and, as his sister told me, "he knows his Lord." Perhaps it's time for him to go home where he will experience the healing of all healings. That's between him and "his Lord."

The day after ministering to Curtis, I was asked to come and minister at the local hospital to the father of one of our employees, a man in his 80's who, I was told, was dying. His name was Clarence. Again, the family was a Church of Christ clan. Again, by the time I finished sharing testimonies of healing with them, their faith had risen to the level of attacking Hell with squirt guns. Soon, we were all in ICU - all ten of us - laying hands on Clarence, their patriarch, family members hugging, crying, comforting, and agreeing with me in prayer as I spoke life and healing to our sedated brother in Christ. Two other family members requested prayer afterward as well.

Though his vitals actually improved the next day, he remained in ICU seven days later. But that family experienced God that day. No doubt! They experienced peace. Their focus was redirected to what - WHO - is the most important person in the Universe. God was there. It was glorious. Even the menfolk were crying and gave me bear hugs when I left. One family member has informed me that our encounter has inspired much God-centered conversation and questions about life, death and Divine healing.

WANTED: WILLING VESSELS

I'm no healing evangelist. No Benny Hinn. I don't claim to be a "Faith Healer" or any such thing. I'm just an average "Joe Christian" who can't find anywhere in Scripture where Jesus commands His followers to "pray for the sick." No, what I DO find is where He instructs us to "HEAL THE SICK." When we know the Healer, it's pretty safe to say all I need is (A) the Faith and (B) the opportunities. Whatever happens next is, frankly, between them and God.

I could go on and on with testimonies of this nature. Some, by human standards, were apparent, immediate "successes" and others appeared to be dismal failures. For example, within a few days of each other, two women - one in her 90s - got up out of their wheel chairs last month when I prayed in Jesus' Name. One hadn't walked in ten years! Some folks are healed, others aren't. Some I've prayed for require additional prayer while others have actually died. In every case, somebody is tremendously blessed and has an encounter with the Spirit of Christ - each and EVERY time!

Whether it's healing prayer, prophetic words, the description of a vision God might give us, I have learned that the worst thing that can happen is that we look plain foolish whenever we dare to step out of our comfort zones. Well, shucks! I guess I'll perpetually be marked as a fool for Christ, the One who stepped out of His comfort zone for all our sakes in the first place. Even in the most "foolish" of instances, people will be blessed as we release the Spirit of Christ from within us... something we should all do more often, even on a moment-to-moment basis in day-to-day family life (a great place to practice, by the way).

I was taught much of what I know about spiritual gifts and demonic manifestations from a Baptist preacher who simply grew tired of reading about things in the Bible and never experiencing any of it.

Does that describe you?

I am convinced that it all comes down to Obedience and Availability. Pray when the opportunity arises and minister in the way that God instructs you to minister. Be available from the time you get out of bed every day. Watch as God provides Divine Appointments - even if by eMail or telephone or in an office setting. You just may find that God will give you a brand new reason for getting up in the morning!

Today, Mother's Day, I received an email from a man in west Texas. Apparently, his House Church group - all self-professing Church of Christ "refugees" - are looking for direction and purpose for meeting. He asked if I would come and my wife and I have agreed to do so. Ironically, the House Church movement among those from the Church of Christ in Texas is spreading rapidly. I'm thrilled to assist in that revival.

This verse of Scripture has been floating around in my spirit for weeks: 2 Corinthians 2:14 (New Life Version) "We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything. He speaks through us wherever we go. The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it."

Amen?

UPDATE: Remember Clarence, the Church of Christ man in the local hospital? Well, they took him off his respirator Friday morning. The Dr's thinking was that he would either breathe on his own or he would die. Well, I visited the hospital Friday night. He's breathing on his own, his vitals are good, he was sitting up in bed and trying to talk, devouring ice chips. We prayed for him again and he shook my hand twice and thanked me. The countenance of the entire family in the waiting room had changed as well. It was a wonderful atmosphere! All glory to God!

On Saturday afternoon, they moved him to a regular