These Signs Follow Those Who Believe!
I remember hearing some teacher or preacher noting that the last part of the book of Mark, "isn't in the oldest manuscripts." Even my Bible notes that verses 9-20 are "bracketed in the NU-text as not original. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them." Nevertheless, the same passage contains Mark's version of the Great Commission and is frequently cross-referenced with the other Synoptics. However, verses 17 and 18 don't get a lot of press unless they are being used as ammunition against snake handling communities (and even coming from the sticks of the US I still haven't seen a snake handling community). And, of course, as ammunition, they are referred to as "not in the original text" and therefore, not really in the Bible even though they are in the Bible. I, however, think there is something more afoot than textual criticism. There is a remarkable amount of opposition to using the supernatural works of the Apostles and Jesus as standards for ministry. This is both disheartening and sad because the Body (and the world) benefits so much from the Holy Spirit's presence.
This past weekend, we did a marathon of renewal meetings with different bodies of believers. In each of these meetings, the Lord showed up simply because we asked Him to come. Prior to these meetings, we met together to pray and ask the Lord what He wanted to do. During that time of prayer, I, for one, received many words and pictures for the weekend. I am going to make a list of words I got on Wednesday night that met with faith in one of the three meetings. Before I do, however, I want to add a disclaimer here that this is just my testimony and part of the pilgrimage I'm on. I'm not boasting, just rejoicing that I could be part of the Kingdom in these concrete ways:
heartpain: meeting one
right wrist pain: meeting one
right base of the neck pain: meeting one
left lower jaw pain: meeting two (with this one, the man later testified that the Lord healed him two minutes before I gave the word)
gallstones: meeting two (actually got the word, finally in meeting three, but was told the person was prayed for in meeting two)
Those are all of the physical words I received, I also got two names:
Peter: which turned out to be one of the leader's middle names. He received much prayer concerning apostolic preaching.
Donna: no Donna's in any of the meetings, but met one today at work.
I also felt the Lord wanted to pour out a Davidic anointing on the worship team. As I was praying for them, I encouraged them to write down the melodies they hear in the their dreams. One guy responded with, "I already do!" Awesome.
I had also seen a black and white shirt on Wednesday night as I was praying and then again in the middle of the night on Thursday. So, I made sure to pray for each person with a black and white shirt on: one in meeting one and one in meeting three. Oddly enough, in meeting three, the man wearing the black and white shirt was highlighted by another prophetic person even before I talked to him.
Moreover, I gave two accurate prophetic words. One concerned children and another happened as I was praying for a lady and she started laughing really hard. She later testified that everything she had been wanting in the way of spiritual gifts I had just prayed for.
Finally, I had the opportunity to share the Word. Now I haven't done that a lot, but I'm starting to gain a sense of when the Holy Spirit is present and speaking through me and when it is just me blowing hot air. As one can imagine, it was a short message.
In conclusion, I certainly don't write all of these testimonies as way of making myself look really holy. It's as simple as asking the Lord to come and taking some risks. Just a few years ago, I didn't think the Lord did such things anymore and I was in the camp of believing that Mark 16:9-20 wasn't really in the Bible although it is. So, I want to encourage anyone out there reading this that "all things are possible to them that believe." Let us press in together.
This past weekend, we did a marathon of renewal meetings with different bodies of believers. In each of these meetings, the Lord showed up simply because we asked Him to come. Prior to these meetings, we met together to pray and ask the Lord what He wanted to do. During that time of prayer, I, for one, received many words and pictures for the weekend. I am going to make a list of words I got on Wednesday night that met with faith in one of the three meetings. Before I do, however, I want to add a disclaimer here that this is just my testimony and part of the pilgrimage I'm on. I'm not boasting, just rejoicing that I could be part of the Kingdom in these concrete ways:
heartpain: meeting one
right wrist pain: meeting one
right base of the neck pain: meeting one
left lower jaw pain: meeting two (with this one, the man later testified that the Lord healed him two minutes before I gave the word)
gallstones: meeting two (actually got the word, finally in meeting three, but was told the person was prayed for in meeting two)
Those are all of the physical words I received, I also got two names:
Peter: which turned out to be one of the leader's middle names. He received much prayer concerning apostolic preaching.
Donna: no Donna's in any of the meetings, but met one today at work.
I also felt the Lord wanted to pour out a Davidic anointing on the worship team. As I was praying for them, I encouraged them to write down the melodies they hear in the their dreams. One guy responded with, "I already do!" Awesome.
I had also seen a black and white shirt on Wednesday night as I was praying and then again in the middle of the night on Thursday. So, I made sure to pray for each person with a black and white shirt on: one in meeting one and one in meeting three. Oddly enough, in meeting three, the man wearing the black and white shirt was highlighted by another prophetic person even before I talked to him.
Moreover, I gave two accurate prophetic words. One concerned children and another happened as I was praying for a lady and she started laughing really hard. She later testified that everything she had been wanting in the way of spiritual gifts I had just prayed for.
Finally, I had the opportunity to share the Word. Now I haven't done that a lot, but I'm starting to gain a sense of when the Holy Spirit is present and speaking through me and when it is just me blowing hot air. As one can imagine, it was a short message.
In conclusion, I certainly don't write all of these testimonies as way of making myself look really holy. It's as simple as asking the Lord to come and taking some risks. Just a few years ago, I didn't think the Lord did such things anymore and I was in the camp of believing that Mark 16:9-20 wasn't really in the Bible although it is. So, I want to encourage anyone out there reading this that "all things are possible to them that believe." Let us press in together.
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