This report from Brian is what makes life so wonderful for me: it’s so fulfilling bringing someone shy, fearful, insecure in public ministry, on a trip away, and even in the relatively ‘short’ period of 12 days, including 2 full days of travel, watching just how many paradigm shifts people can make, how much more they see of what they ‘knew’ God could do, but seeing him DO it, changes the perspective altogether. This is Brian’s Facebook post today, having just got home:
How does one begin to process the last 12 days.
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I have seen more, experienced more than most see or experience in a lifetime.
From the day we left Britain, to the day I left Colombia, there were miracles.
There was no way we should have made the connection in Madrid, but God had different ideas.
There was no way that Pastor Williams father should have received the feeling in his hands, nor should he have walked again, let alone do squats, but God had different ideas.
There was no way that the young boy with one leg clearly shorter than the other should have been able to run around without fear of falling, but God had different ideas.
There is no way that the Pastor in a desperately poor part of Cali, who had cataracts should have been able to see clearly again, but God had different ideas.
There is no way that Ana Beiba should be able to care for 80 abandoned elderly, with a vision for a further 40, with no resources or government assistance, but God had different ideas.
But God – it is a phrase that we see often in scripture – I particularly like it in Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
He is rich in mercy – we don’t get what we deserve.
His love is great – but better than that He loves us with that love.
We were (notice past tense) dead in our trespasses, and He has made (note past tense again) us alive.
We are in heavenly places with Christ.
In the coming ages – that means now! – we get to see the immeasurable riches of his grace.
He is going to show us this kindness.
Regardless of how hopeless the situation, regardless of what you have been told, or have told yourself – remember –
BUT GOD.
So, did everyone I pray for receive a miracle.
No.
Did everyone I pray for begin a journey towards complete restoration?
Yes.
Is that statement a bit presumptuous? Does it give false hope to people who are at the end of their endurance, to those who have no hope?
I don’t think so. Jesus clearly teaches that we are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers. Jesus states that not only will we do the things that He did whilst on earth, but that we would do greater things that He did. That is a promise.
Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 1:20, that “no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes an Christ.
Jesus tells us that Whatever we ask in His name, He will give it to us. – why? So that the Son may glorify the Father (John 14:13) and so that our joy may be full (John 1624)
That means it is impossible for God not to answer prayer – so when we ask for healing, that is what we get. Why God chooses to give miracles to some, and healings to another is a mystery, but we can be clear on one thing, every prayer gets answered, and prayers of request for healing are always answered with a YES and AMEN from heaven.
How does one process the last twelve days – it is going to take a while, but one thing I am sure of – this is only the beginning.
