Breaking the Power of Fear

Even the most basic reading of the New Testament illustrates that when the Kingdom of God breaks into this present evil age, power encounters occur. The rule of God overthrows the rule of darkness, oppression falls off people, and they come into the mercy of the Father.

This happens everywhere Jesus goes in the New Testament: whether it's a vacation at a lakeside retreat (Mark 4 & 5), a local church gathering or after a dinner at a friend's house (Luke 4). Jesus loves undoing the power of the enemy! As He announces the Kingdom's presence, the pseudo kingdom of the devil is pushed back and evil spirits run for cover.

Two weeks ago during a ministry time after worship, the Holy Spirit gave a word of knowledge about freeing people from nightmares and intense fear during the night hours. One of the people who responded was a girl who had been plagued with fearful dreams and night terrors constantly. We prayed a very simple prayer for her, commanding nightmares to stop by Jesus' authority and inviting the presence of the Spirit of God around her. This girl told me a few nights ago that she hasn't had a nightmare since!

This is the in-breaking of God's kingdom, pushing back darkness and bringing His presence to the people He loves. I'm so glad we get to participate in His work...

Breaking Up Ground

Early on in 2006 a friend of mine, John MacGirvin, gave me a prophetic word about coming to the east coast of Canada:

He said, "I saw you out in a field plowing really hard for about 3 and a half years, coming into a short season of rest, and then going out to plow another field in preparation for a healing revival on the East Coast of Canada."

The first part of this word unfolded just like that- we worked incredibly hard in Kansas City for 3 and half years, focusing on breaking up ground, healing hurting people, and teaching the words and works of Jesus. When it was difficult we pushed forward because we were absolutely committed to see the kingdom break in to that environment.

Then, somewhere around the 3.5 year mark, things got easier: more people got healed, there was a great deal of favor in the community, spiritual gifts were breaking out and the power of God was touching people. For just over a year, it felt like a season of rest. Although we continued to work, it seemed like easier work than it was when we first started out.

Well, in the Spring of 2008 we moved to Halifax and phase 2 began. For 10 months now we have been breaking up ground on the East Coast- pushing into spiritual gifts, the reality of Jesus and His Kingdom, and the manifest presence of God. Already we've seen wonderful signs of breakthrough: physical healings, demonic oppression lifting off people, growing expectation, and an increased awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence. At times it's difficult to keep pushing forward, but I'm continually reminded of Paul's words in Galatians chapter 6: "Don't become weary of doing good because at the right time, we'll reap a harvest if we do not give up."

I'm looking forward to seeing what will grow out of what we're planting right now...

When Jesus Comes to Town

There’s a wonderful dynamic in the Gospels that occurs whenever Jesus visits a neighborhood: people get healed of sicknesses, demons come out in dramatic ways, and the mercy of God touches the lives of individuals in a powerful way.

Last night at our youth gathering @ Halifax Vineyard, I taught from Luke chapter 4:38-on what it looks like when Jesus comes to town:

After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.

As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.

Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.”

Jesus constantly modeled “in the moment ministry”; wherever He went He brought the reality of the Kingdom of God to people.

I love the image of Jesus and His friends going for fish sticks at Pete’s house after church one day, discovering Pete’s mother in law has a fever, and so Jesus simply speaks to the fever and tells it to stop. The remarkable thing is that it leaves immediately.

Well, I guess the lady started text messaging her friends or something, because soon after there was a whole crowd of people at the door. And Jesus touches them in the power of the Holy Spirit, heals all of their diseases and drives out a whole bunch of evil spirits.

See, this is normal life for followers of Jesus. Wherever we are- we bring Jesus’ authority and empowering to both announce His rule and to demonstrate his rule. We see this over and over again in the pages of the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts in the life of Peter, Stephen, Philip, Paul etc.

So last night with this group of about 25 teenagers and young adults, I told stories of the things I’ve seen Jesus do when it comes to healing the sick: skin growing back over open wounds, heart conditions disappearing, cysts dissolving instantly, injured bones and tendons instantly restored, blind eyes experiencing healing, crooked spines straightening, diseases being miraculously healed etc. Then we made space for words of knowledge to see what God wanted to touch.

The first girl we prayed for had severe headaches on a regular basis. Throughout the talk she had been disengaged and distracted, and the Lord spoke very clearly to me that He was about to do something powerful with her.

When we called her up to get prayed for, all of that changed. As God’s presence came to her, the power of the Holy Spirit touched her. We gave her prophetic words about her life and the destiny God has for her, and it was like she came alive. For the rest of the night she was praying for other people, completely engaged in the ministry time.

We gave prophetic words to a large number of students, telling them things only God could know, and they experienced his presence in dramatic ways as we spoke. Kids that were oppressed experienced freedom as demons left.

Driving home that night, it hit me again- I love this life that Jesus has called us to! Being with Him and doing what He does is the greatest way we could ever spend our time, energy and money. Remember that wherever you are, if you have expectation and the willingness to take risks, the kingdom will break in!