30th January 2012
God spoke to several members of the community of St Paul's about fasting for breakthrough at the start of a new year. Bimbi in response sought confirmation and responded by a corporate call to fast and pray for a week from 22nd-29th January.
As homegroup leader, I duly brought the call to my group. About 6 months prior to ths we had been studying the Spiritual Disciplines of which fasting was one. This had generated much debate and little action. Members of the group grappled with the doctrine however, the practical application seemed beyond reach. In the intervening months something has changed though. We have completed Freedom In Christ and the group are free, enthusiastic and growing in intimacy with God. So the call to fast came and a unanimous agreement to fast was the response. Having practical ideas and options helped. Some missed a meal, others undertook a Daniel fast and others only water. All prayed more and listened for God. All HEARD His voice. Today we shared our breakthroughs:
Participant 1: Whilst being quiet listening to God, I heard the word "hospital". I was immediately reminded of a time when a dear friend had let me down and not met my expectations of supporting me through illness. I subsequently cut her out of my life as I was so hurt. I know I needed to forgive her in that instant. I asked God to forgive me, I forgave her and sent her an email apologising for my harsh response to her failure to be what I needed her to be.
Participant 2: I have struggled for some time that my son, whom God has blessed in so many ways, has stopped attending St Paul's but studies all day instead. I chose to talk to him about it and we shared 2 precious hours of honest open communication about how God has blessed him. He didn't return to church, however, during worship that day I heard God say "leave him in my hands, you have done your job trust me now".
Participant 3: Having been praying for my husband who has been forced to make people redundant recently we saw a real breakthrough. An individual whom had caused him real concern as being capable of making his life a misery thorugh the process, came and asked for voluntary redundancy.
Participant 4: During my daily dog walk, a fellow walker confided in me the recent difficulties faced with regard to sickness and bereavement. Completely out of character, I orchestrated a conversation about faith and hope, and she accepted my praying over her in the woods. The woman was very grateful and encouraged.
Participant 5: My husband was having problems overcoming obstacles relating to the certification required to release financial benefits due to him. This was resolved this week through prayer.
Participant 6: A issue long forgotten from my childhood was remembered and I knew I needed to forgive the bullies who had made my life hell for three years. I had never told anyone. God brought it up and helped me forgive and move on.
Sunday 22 Jan 2012 -10.15am service
Thanks be to God for four miracles - two being decisions for Christ made by a gentleman and lady in the 10.15am service, the third, a shoulder being healed and the fourth, blocked sinuses in a sinusitis sufferer clearing up.
Sunday 22 Jan 2012 - 6.30pm service
'Thank you for your ministry last night. I have been suffering a stiff, painful lower back for many months. X prayed for me, using a new "steps" approach suggested in Canada. I felt a relief from pain immediately and, although the stiffness is still there - claim continued healing in Jesus' name.'
Testimony: declaration of truth or fact
We have recently been learning about the importance of sharing testimonies about what GOD is doing in our lives as a response to prayer. We as prayer ministers who regularly pray for many people with a variety of issues, considered recently how testimony can release expectancy and faith in the hearts of those listening; fuelling a new boldness to pray and believe GOD will show the hearers favour too.
That is why I want to share again what may be the conclusion of a recent chapter in our family’s journey of faith.
Many of you may remember I shared on Easter Sunday how God had removed cancer from my sister’s body in response to our prayers here at St Paul’s. GOD has blessed her and the whole family in so many ways this year as we have walked the cancer journey together. He has truly heard our cries for healing, mercy, peace, provision, courage, strength and unity. Here are some of the answers to prayer we have seen
- Plans for radical surgery were cancelled in response to prayer, meaning Jane still has all lymph nodes in her neck intact
- Scans showed NO cancer anywhere in her body despite the original lump removed being a secondary type of cancer. The primary had gone.
- No need for chemotherapy
- Shorter course of radiotherapy than initially planned.
- Felt fairly well throughout radiotherapy, with symptoms well controlled by regular medication
- Brilliant support services provided by staff at Maggie’s Centre for cancer sufferers
- Supported every week of treatment by different family members, often flying in from around the globe to be around to help/care.
- Extended leave from work granted on full pay
- Mothers health which is usually poor was at it’s best for years despite a heart attack at Christmas meaning reduction in anxiety.
- Long term divisions within close family relationships resolved, restored, healed and forgiveness extended.
- Jane’s words were” it’s just like all the things I go around worrying about are being sorted out, I can’t believe it”
- I offered the explanation that when we pray because GOD is all knowing, he gives us just what we need, which is sometimes very different form what we may dare to ask for.
- At the end of her radiotherapy when she was at her lowest ebb and she called me crying saying “I can’t do this anymore”. I was in a position to fly up to carry her through that last week. My calendar was miraculously empty. As I boarded the train, there sat Anthea and Bimbi who were able to pray with me to receive more of GODS life giving spirit to pour out to Jane that week. I was able to be full of Joy and Peace that week. Each day I started with worship which Jane could hear as I belted out my anthem YOU ARE THE VOICE OF HOPE. Which I could then explain to her, I trusted GOD for her.
- Finally, she called this week to say her follow up with the Consultant oncologist had been encouraging. The normally quiet uninspiring man had been gushing with enthusiasm and actually said he was AMAZED as most of his patients are not even able to eat at this stage of treatment. Jane was able to eat 3 days after radiotherapy ended and was telephoning me from the summit of Connick Hill overlooking Ben Lommond. I encouraged her to look up and around at the great works of her creator and join with me in praising him for HE is indeed a great GOD who cares about ALL the details of our life and answers the prayers of his people. Jane is unwilling to acknowledge GOD is her healer but does think the love and care she recived over the year has made a huge difference. My continued prayer is that she will come to experience that GOD who IS love more and more.
Thank you to my Family here at St Paul’s for all your concern and praying faithfully. I hope this will encourage many of you to be bold as you approach his throne of grace because he cares about YOU!
LOVE
Karen Gardiner
On a routine Dr's. visit last Nov I was told I should see my optician to get my eyes checked because of possible side effects from a medication I take to control an illness I've had since I was a teenager. During the check up I was told I needed to be referred to a Consultant as I had the signs of retinal toxicity and needed to stop taking the medication and would eventually lose sight in the eye unless it was dealt with.
My immediate reaction was rebellion, there was no way I wanted to stop the medication as it gives me a reasonably unrestricted lifestyle. However an inner voice was gently nudging me to pray, wasn't it about time I started searching for what God wanted in this?
The following Sunday I felt led to ask for prayer from the Prayer Ministry team and within a couple of minutes I fell, literally! under an anointing of the Spirit which left me quite weak at the knees and yes I did feel a little bit embarrassed when I came round! Since that time my hunger for God has grown and my prayer life and relationship with Him has taken on new life.
I shared all of this with very dear Christian friends including my House group who have all been so faithful in praying for my healing. Last Monday I saw a Consultant at St Thomas' who after a very long and extensive examination informed me I do not have Retinal Toxicity and do not have to stop taking my medication!
I am so grateful to God for my healing and His grace and patience with me and to my fellow Christians for their prayer and support and feel greatly encouraged to go on praying for healing from the illness itself.
Having seen the prayer ministry team paired up and eagerly waiting to spring into action I was in no doubt who my preferred choice would be. I had been suffering for a while with pain at the top of my leg which was worse when getting out of the car and had given God plenty of opportunity to heal me at home by claiming all the right verses and trying to convince Him that now would be a good time but with no results. So now here I was sitting in the healing service at St Paul’s awaiting for my ‘prayer ministry team members of choice’ to become available It was during this long wait that I just felt a strong feeling that I should get Seb and Sheila to pray for me both of which were not on my choice list. However the feeling continued and in the end I decided ok maybe God is bigger than the list – just maybe.
Seb had only just joined the prayer ministry team but still quickly launched into a mighty prayer for God to heal me which kind of left my faith on the starting line, while Sheila did the ‘praying in the Spirit’ bit. It really did at first just feel like one of those ‘never mind maybe next time ‘ experiences which I think many of us can identify with, however God was about to take me by surprise. As they were praying I quietly placed my hand where the pain was and Seb as he was praying gently put his hand on top of mine and continued to pray with even more gusto. I’m not sure at which moment it was but I suddenly realised that the pain had gone as in really gone as in not there any more gone, but being full of faith (Ok maybe not full – just half full) I wanted to check getting in and out of the car to be sure. The service over I rushed out to the car and jumped in and out several times and yes I had been healed. My first prayer of thanks to God was just one word ‘Wow’ which may not be exactly bible based Holy Spirit inspired but it was just how I felt. God had done it and I know that mine is just one of several testimonies from that evening. O yes, I’ll give you one guess which two people are now on the top of my ‘list’ (as in the very very top) if I need prayer again – and that’s another lesson I’ve been taught out of all this. Who needs lists anyway!! - Thank you Lord.
PS: I won’t tell you the reaction I got from Seb and Sheila when I told them that evening as it would make another fine story on its own. KS
I’m sure all of you who were here last Sunday remember the many blessings we received. For several weeks- on and off – I have had toothache. Last Sunday it was tiresome, until Bimbi and Brian prayed over me when it completely went and hasn’t returned since. I do praise and thank the Lord for answering their prayer.
MC
As some of you may know, I’ve been in training as an evangelist with the diocese of Rochester since September 2005. When I tell people that, they generally ask me either “why?” or “what are you going to do when you’re commissioned?” Until recently, these questions have filled me with despair as I’ve only been able to respond that I have no idea at all what I’m going to do when I’ve finished the training and yes, come to think of it why on earth am I training as an evangelist when I haven’t got the guts to talk to anyone about anything, let alone to share the gospel with them? After 18 months of feeling completely inadequate and hopeless and thinking why am I doing this? Who am I kidding? Why don’t I just give up? - God has come to my rescue. He’s done two amazing things for me over the last few months which I can see will permanently change my life.
The first one is he’s given me a spirit of joy. When I first approached Bimbi about training as an evangelist, his response was to welcome my willingness, but to point out that it won’t really work telling people about the joy of salvation and life with God when you are someone who has no joy in themselves. I can see now how prophetic that response was. After much praying and seeking after a further anointing of the Holy Spirit, in the last couple of months I’ve been given it. I first felt it on Sunday 11th March at the evening praise service at St Paul’s, after spending a couple of days at a conference with Rolland Baker and others from Iris Ministries and listening to them telling me exactly what I needed to hear. And I’ve continued to feel it on several occasions since then. And when I feel the Holy Spirit, how does he manifest himself? Not through speaking in tongues or falling over or shaking, as happens to some, but by a feeling of unstoppable joy, so that I can’t stop grinning and laughter wells up inside me. God has given me the thing I most lacked, so that I can do his work.
The second thing is harder to talk about because it involves specific things that God has spoken to me, also in the last few months, which I can’t tell anyone at this point in time. (Sorry if that sounds a bit heavy, it’s not some great prophecy about the state of the world, just some personal stuff which I have to keep to myself for the time being). However, I’ll tell you what I can tell you. And this is that the things God said to me touched me in such a way as to heal me precisely where I needed to be healed. He knew exactly, precisely, where to touch me to heal me and to take away the devil’s power over me. There is this one thing about me which is so painful I can only function for as long as I am able to avoid thinking about it. It’s been like an Achilles heel all these years, all the enemy had to do to cripple me was to push me into the downward-spiraling thought patterns and I’d just collapse. Well I really believe that that’s gone now. The thing is still there, but God’s healing touch, the words he said to me and what he told me, have taken away its power to cripple me. He has given me a shield and a weapon to ward off all the schemes of the wicked one (Eph 6:10-18). Not just the general armour which that passage in Ephesians makes clear is available to us all, but a particular weapon, crafted and made purposely for what I need it for. I took the message which God gave Bimbi about the reason for the prayer and fasting (to shatter the enemy’s power over our lives) very personally, and through that time of seeking him, he has enabled me to understand the enormity of what he’s done for me. Very precise, very tailored, just for me, just exactly what I needed. When you realize that that’s the sort of love God has for you, to know exactly the thing you most need, and give it to you when you haven’t even asked, then how can you not be able to go out and tell everyone how great he is?
CG
7 or 8 years ago I suffered a slipped disk whilst playing squash which required me to take 7 weeks off work - aside from being very painful at the time, it has left me with some restricted movement - nothing terrible but still restricting. One particular outcome is that I could no longer do sits ups! and could only raise my back 20% or so off the ground
At the Bill Johnson conference in Tonbridge I was prayed for and my lower back got really hot. I took this as a potential sign of healing but it still hurt and there was no real evidence of improvement. On the following Sunday evening we had our own healing service at church and once again I was prayed for - this time I found myself being physically shaken (quite strongly) - all very strange!
Anyway without thinking too much about it, I went to the gym the following week as usual - did my running and finished with a few exercises - this usually includes a few pathetic attempts at sit ups. I did the same this time but I could suddenly do a full sit up rather than the normal slight movement. Rather surprised I stopped and tried again - amazingly I could now do them - something I hadn't done for years - Hallelujah! I told my wife that night and went to bed happy.
The following day I thought I would just check that I could still do them and found that I couldn't. Well, I was determined not to lose my healing so I phoned a few people including the vicar and asked them to pray for me and we set about claiming my healing and refusing to let the devil have his way and 'rob' me of my new found movement.
So, where am I today? well the good news is - after this set back I can now do sit ups. I have to say that I haven't completely got rid of the pain, it still comes back but I believe God healed my back and I am pressing in for a complete end to the pain and problems. I have no doubt we worship a God who is more than able - Hallelujah!
C
Easter Sunday 2008
This Jesus is alive and still active today!
I asked Bimbi this week if I could share the exciting journey myself and my family have been on over the past month.
Why?
I think it may encourage you, inspire you, and remind you that this Jesus who rose from the dead 2000 years ago is alive.
I am a person who keeps a journal. Primarily because those of you who know me well know, I am scatty. I forget things. My journal helps me remember. It’s full of all sorts of stuff, because I am also a bit random. So forgive me if it’s a bit airy fairy but it’s sincere and it’s a piece of me, so please be gentle and gracious too.
Here we go lets go back a month
At home group tonight we continued our study of Revelation. We finished with a challenge
Think of one thing this week you can’t achieve without God’s supernatural involvement!
I shared a situation a work colleague had confided earlier that day that I felt overwhelmed by. Only GOD had the answer to. This individual was off sick that day she was broken by the overwhelming distress in her life. We all prayed and the group encouraged me to text her to tell her that we were praying.
Next day she was back at work feeling stronger and said she had felt a surge of strength and support the night before.
However when I got home from home group that night I faced a new challenge! My eldest beloved sister Jane has CANCER. Metastatic cancer. Plan is for urgent surgery to remove lymph nodes this week then radio therapy and possibly chemotherapy.
I am writing this after knowing for a week. GOD has held me. The VOICE of HOPE has indeed spoken to me and given me that PEACE that passes understanding Ephesians 4, 5+6. Of course I am sad for Jane. I don’t want her to suffer. But my hope In a GOD who knows what is best is unshaken. We do not have all the answers or understand everything.
Des Van Der Water spoke on Sunday (My favourite Speaker!). About Lazarus being raised from the dead.
I was so encouraged and what I heard my heavenly Father whisper was “this journey is about calling forth faith in our family”
I am standing on THE ROCK OF AGES ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND
KAREN THIS IS WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD!!!!!!
Healing Service Week 3
Went forward to be prayed for on behalf of Jane.
Chris Stern prayed that when they removed Jane’s lymph nodes the results would show no cancer cells. The nurse in me was silently thinking, uh uh, then she didn’t need to have them removed and that would be a big waste of really important glands!
Home Group the following week I was able to genuinely praise GOD with all my heart, soul and strength thanking him for the peace he had given me and our family.
When I got home there had been a call to say the Drs had decided not to remove the lymph nodes. Instead they would take biopsies and do a CT scan. I am now praying along with Chris Stern that there will be no cancer cells.
I arrived at home group this week straight from work to find my husband there which is most unusual! He had come with my daughter. He pulled me to one side to tell me Jane had just called to say the results were back and no cancer cells had been found on biopsies or scans!!!!
We are amazed and elated and God’s amazing mercy and power.
Our prayer is now that Jane who lost her faith in Jesus a long time ago would start to grapple with this supernatural being she acknowledges has touched her life and meet with this Jesus we celebrate today.
I shall read my notes to you tonight and you may understand why.
Fear! God, how do you help me?
I was asked by Karen to say a few words about Fear.
The question: When have I been extremely fearful and my faith has got me through?
Having worked as a police officer for thirty years Karen probably had in mind that Duncan would have many occasions that would fit the bill for a testimony about fear. She was correct as danger comes daily with the job and with all danger comes fear. Shootings stabbings, fights, riots, mangled up bodies and all sorts of disasters.
However I am not going to talk about all that. I am only going to go back two weeks into my life history tonight to give some insight into one of my fears and how with Gods help after meditation and prayer I found peace and deliverance.
Some background.
I started my life off as a mixed race Geordie Scot (that’s some one born in the heart of Newcastle with a Scottish dad) and when 5 years old moved down here to the south east of England. This was in 1962 and far too early in modern parlance to be having a regional accent. I was given remedial help to cure me of this problem and help me speak south east English.
Ever since infant school, and being unable to grasp the written language I have been told I have a problem. Constantly being told you have a ‘problem reading’ after time becomes a label.
All through school I became that boy that sits at the back of the class so that I would never be picked to read aloud or write on the blackboard. Years of being told you cannot read well and your spelling is atrocious have an effect! When all the great and the good keep saying this you begin to believe it’s actually true.
Into the working world and further training and teaching over many years gave me vast amounts of knowledge, but boy did I hate the sight of a flip chart! Any room with a flip chart was my nightmare and I kept well away just in case, ‘Hey, that’s a good idea Duncan, here’s a pen write that one up’.
It’s no good taking exams when you have an hour to give all the answers, but it takes nearly all that time to read the questions! When you fail all the exams you get another label, ‘failure’.
When I look at a page the words all move about and it’s hard to read. When I read in my head only I know what’s going on, it a two way thing. Eyes to brain, then brain to eyes. To read aloud it becomes a three way thing. Eyes to brain then brain to mouth. That’s ok so long as they stay together. Keeping all three in step has, to me, almost to be a physical act. Once out of step though others can hear the scramble! I could never do this in public. And never have!
They give this problem another label now ‘Dyslexia’!
Two weeks ago my self and my wife Liz were slotted to read the lesson and gospel in the main morning service here at St Paul’s. It’s my wife that reads cried I, there has to be some mistake. It was on the list months ago, I noted the date was Palm Sunday, more like sweaty Palm Sunday for me no doubt. I thought if I keep quiet and not mention anything it would all go away.
Even after reading the passage through beforehand the fear and trepidation grew with days, hours, minutes then seconds until I was there standing in front of the mike. It is the gospel and everyone in the church stands up. It is quiet and everyone is looking at me. I had never prayed for clarity so much in all my life. I looked at the words on the page. Eyes to brain on please, there was clarity. Brain to mouth on please, speak the words.
I have very little memory of what I was saying but I was off and away. All I know was that I was reading aloud, my voice was coming out of the speakers and it sounded the same as the words on the page. God had released me of my fear; I could now reveal his word to others. He really does have a plan for me.
Thank you Karen for that mistake.
Amen.