Jesus said:
Mark 16: 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
John 14: 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
These scriptures are the guaranty that God has promised to be active in our lives as we believe in Him, have faith in His promises, and ask in Jesus name. Notice how that none of the gifts are within man's reach in the natural sense. All of the "manifestations of the Holy Spirit" are impossibilities within our own abilities. This is so that God may be Glorified and that those used of God might be humbled. Anything that God does through man always humbles never puffs up. The one sure sign of the Holy Spirit is working in us is the profound feeling of humility that comes with the manifestation/use of God. The key to "being used of God" is a seeking heart, faith, and compassion towards others. We must realize that whatever God is doing "through" us He is doing "towards" meeting a need that will bring the observer closer to Himself. That observer could be ourselves or others.
A tongue in a private prayer time where one's prayer is both "in the Spirit" and of the mind edifies the believer. 1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
These scriptures are the guaranty that God has promised to be active in our lives as we believe in Him, have faith in His promises, and ask in Jesus name. Notice how that none of the gifts are within man's reach in the natural sense. All of the "manifestations of the Holy Spirit" are impossibilities within our own abilities. This is so that God may be Glorified and that those used of God might be humbled. Anything that God does through man always humbles never puffs up. The one sure sign of the Holy Spirit is working in us is the profound feeling of humility that comes with the manifestation/use of God. The key to "being used of God" is a seeking heart, faith, and compassion towards others. We must realize that whatever God is doing "through" us He is doing "towards" meeting a need that will bring the observer closer to Himself. That observer could be ourselves or others.
A tongue in a private prayer time where one's prayer is both "in the Spirit" and of the mind edifies the believer. 1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
But then when a believer prays corporately in a tongue others hear the manifestation and, if interpreted, would also be edified. A lot can be said more about tongues and its use but this will suffice for an explanation now.
Of course all the gifts listed in the Scriptures are used in the same way by God. He manifests Himself and encourages others through them. Tongues may be the biggest one seen in churches today but the other gifts that "seem more impossible" have a smaller part in today's manifestation of the Spirit. Why don't we see them? Why only tongues and the now and then manifestation of prophesy? Because those can be the most influenced by man. "The prophesy is subject to the prophet." I think that, not in all cases, tongues and prophesy (and I have served as a prophet since I was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit) are the most influenced by pride or a personal show of "spirituality". Remember that the gifts are supposed to manifest God, to the one being used, and those around them receiving or witnessing them. That is why healing, miraculous signs and wonders, raising the dead, multiplication of needs, and casting out demons are seldom seen any more in the body of Christ (at least in Western Christianity) because they are "uncontrollable" and without the influence of man. Let me interject here that the manifestations above mentioned are present in the Body of Christ but not with the abundance shown in the book of Acts or in the Gospels with Jesus. Not according to "as every man receives". No they are not the norm in every "believing" church and that because of lack of faith or "real meat" teaching. Most pastors would feel displaced if they had "Holy Spirit" empowered people in their congregations doing the work of "their Father in Heaven". No slight intended just truth.
In my walk with Christ so far I have seen all the spiritual gifts made manifest by the hand of God and because I believed in the Word and Commands of God my children also witnessed the same manifestations. The Holy Spirit has graced our house with many healing's, signs and wonders, multiplication of food, money, jobs, (I was a bricklayer, seasonal work in Michigan), then at work/hospitals: site given to the blind, dumb talking, deaf hearing, the power of coma's broken, prophesy given both written and spoken and the list goes on. God never changes and He built His Church on the promises of Scripture and they still hold true for today for those who will believe and "hear His voice."
The working of miracles always incorporates the use of Faith. "With out faith it is impossible to please God", and "it is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen". When one walks by faith he sees the need, has and shows compassion on the needy, then "sees the Father's work" and acts upon it, "knowing that God is a rewarder of those that seek Him diligently". Christians should always be compassionate people, willing to step in and let God change the circumstances according to His will. Willing to step in is where most Christians fail. As many Christians as there are in the world you would think that it would be turned upside down right now by the hand of God. The Apostles, used of God, did so in not much time through the Book of Acts. Why don't we? Because we are scared, prideful and don't understand the will of God. We think: Oh we will be embarrassed if nothing happens! Is the power in your hands to do these things? Then: "ye of little faith" will fail because there is no power natural in man to accomplish the "will of the Father". Only those "led by the Spirit" will do the will of the Father, those who obey His commands and seek His face will "hear the we small voice". Knowing His will, hearing His voice, obeying His commands, and exhibiting compassion is all we need to move out and do His work.
In some cases I have been told of the Lord to pray for someone for healing. At other times I was "moved with compassion" and stepped out in faith, laid on hands, prayed, and "let God". Many of these times were with miraculous results, and many times I wasn't even there to see the miracle happen because it wasn't manifest when I left. That is why faith is so important. Listen to me Children of God..........By faith we do not have to see the results of every prayer offered every time we lay on hands. That's what faith is: "the evidence of things hoped for the substance of things unseen". You might walk away and the person prayed for might have to confront God for the healing. Maybe get right with God on a matter of sin. Only God knows so put it in His hands and let Him work "according to His will."
Here is an example:
I was going to a Nazarene church after that I was saved. My conversion to Christianity was almost a Damascus road experience. Having been filled with the Spirit, (at that time with out the evidence of speaking with tongues), God first taught me to pray and then gave me compassion. I was sitting in a Wednesday night service and the Lord spoke to me about laying hands on an elderly woman who, along with her husband, were charter members in the church. She played the organ and he sang in the choir. She had just had a full hysterectomy and was in great pain. She asked to be kept in prayer for the pain and a quick recovery. During the service the Lord spoke to me and said: "Go lay hands on her and pray so I can heal her." I answered Him back and said: "Lord this is a Nazarene church they don't believe in healing or any gifts". He said "Go and pray for her as I will heal her". This conversation went back and forth for some time me foolishly arguing with the Lord and Him putting up with me. After half an hour he gave me the missing motivator "compassion", then I saw her pain as if I was experiencing it myself and moved into action. At the end of every Nazarene service there was an alter call. She was at the alter so I mustered up the confidence to "no matter what" obey Christ. I walked up the isle and knelt next to her. After a moment or two I said I would like to pray with her. She said ok except she didn't understand that I wanted to lay hands on her, anoint her with oil and pray for healing in Jesus name. Once that was out in the open her heart hardened. No way. That doesn't work and we DON"T BELIEVE IN THAT here. I told her that the Lord told me to do so and at the same time prayed "Lord you have to open her heart". He did and she finally allowed it. Having prayed there was no immediate results and by faith I left her none the better for all the struggles it took to happen. As I walked away I prayed Lord if you don't touch her I will have much trouble from her on Sunday.
Well Sunday came and the first thing I seen when I entered the church was this woman streaking toward me with this (anticipated) aggravated scowl on her face. Then she lit into me with "I was never in so much pain in my life Thursday, Friday, and Saturday"!!!! She said all of a sudden it came to mind that she had to believe in her healing to receive it. Must have been the Lord speaking to her so she did the right thing and knelt down to pray with weeping because of her hard heart. Healing was immediate and complete. Pain gone. Then a big smile came over her face and she thanked me for having compassion and praying with her.
Here is an example of so many things having to do with faith and obedience on both the side of the receiver and the minister. Now this was about healing with a church member someone who knows Christ. Lets look at another one with a non believer.
By the time this healing happened I had grown in grace and faith for a few years not withstanding that during this growth period many manifestations had happened.
I was working with a small Coke Battery maintenance crew on Zug Island, Delray, Michigan. The company we were working for was at best austere and cruel. The job was hot and the safety equipment at best meager. The foreman's were at best yes men and belligerent. Working was dangerous and we had to be ready to work in between pushing coke. One of the employees on the crew was at best an immoral drug user who had no qualms of making mock of me, God or anything of faith. He came in that day with his middle finger twisted out of joint and at a 90 degree angle to his hand running sideways along his other fingers towards his thumb. His hand was huge and the pain was intense. He showed it to the boss and he said that he had to work anyway or we would be short on the crew. He added that if he couldn't do his job he would be fired, a bad situation for a drug user. As the four of us stood around waiting to hit it and get it I suddenly felt compassion for this man and without word or guaranty from the Lord I offered to pray for his hand. It went like this: "you have mocked Christ with both your living and your words even while having been exposed to the Gospel by myself and others. Now Christ will heal your hand as a manifestation of His love to you, then a decision must be made as to "what will you do with Jesus?" He said he would do anything to have his hand made whole. So as 3 of the other crew members stood and watched, I anointed his hand with oil and commanded healing in the name of Jesus. We all watched as his finger went back in place, (no one touching it) and the swelling went down and he was made whole. No one there was a believer but me but all were saying (quite naturally) praise the Lord and thank you Jesus. He began to jump around praising God and laughing. He showed the foreman who had seen his hand previously and his response was: "get back to work". A prophesy followed for the young man that was healed saying that if he didn't embrace the Gospel of Christ many bad things would follow. Many years later we worked together again on another job and he confessed to me that he did't head the prophesy and the many bad things came to pass. Here is a partial list: Shot once, stabbed several times, nearly beat to death on more than a couple of occasions, and hit by a car. This is a partial list. I believe by faith that God will bring him in because faith is the evidence of things hoped for.........and I hoped and prayed for his salvation. I have enough faith that I don't have to see the answer to all the prayers I have prayed on the immediate basis, I know they are answered otherwise faith is not faith.
These are just a couple of examples of the manifestation of God in my life with many more to be added to this blog in the future.
A note to all believers that read this: most of the miracles that I have witnessed in my serving God has been at work more than in the church. Each of us should be doing our part to turn the world upside down as the Lord wills.
Grow in grace, faith, and obedience.
God Bless and Keep
Love in Christ
Jerrold Cavasin
The working of miracles always incorporates the use of Faith. "With out faith it is impossible to please God", and "it is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen". When one walks by faith he sees the need, has and shows compassion on the needy, then "sees the Father's work" and acts upon it, "knowing that God is a rewarder of those that seek Him diligently". Christians should always be compassionate people, willing to step in and let God change the circumstances according to His will. Willing to step in is where most Christians fail. As many Christians as there are in the world you would think that it would be turned upside down right now by the hand of God. The Apostles, used of God, did so in not much time through the Book of Acts. Why don't we? Because we are scared, prideful and don't understand the will of God. We think: Oh we will be embarrassed if nothing happens! Is the power in your hands to do these things? Then: "ye of little faith" will fail because there is no power natural in man to accomplish the "will of the Father". Only those "led by the Spirit" will do the will of the Father, those who obey His commands and seek His face will "hear the we small voice". Knowing His will, hearing His voice, obeying His commands, and exhibiting compassion is all we need to move out and do His work.
In some cases I have been told of the Lord to pray for someone for healing. At other times I was "moved with compassion" and stepped out in faith, laid on hands, prayed, and "let God". Many of these times were with miraculous results, and many times I wasn't even there to see the miracle happen because it wasn't manifest when I left. That is why faith is so important. Listen to me Children of God..........By faith we do not have to see the results of every prayer offered every time we lay on hands. That's what faith is: "the evidence of things hoped for the substance of things unseen". You might walk away and the person prayed for might have to confront God for the healing. Maybe get right with God on a matter of sin. Only God knows so put it in His hands and let Him work "according to His will."
Here is an example:
I was going to a Nazarene church after that I was saved. My conversion to Christianity was almost a Damascus road experience. Having been filled with the Spirit, (at that time with out the evidence of speaking with tongues), God first taught me to pray and then gave me compassion. I was sitting in a Wednesday night service and the Lord spoke to me about laying hands on an elderly woman who, along with her husband, were charter members in the church. She played the organ and he sang in the choir. She had just had a full hysterectomy and was in great pain. She asked to be kept in prayer for the pain and a quick recovery. During the service the Lord spoke to me and said: "Go lay hands on her and pray so I can heal her." I answered Him back and said: "Lord this is a Nazarene church they don't believe in healing or any gifts". He said "Go and pray for her as I will heal her". This conversation went back and forth for some time me foolishly arguing with the Lord and Him putting up with me. After half an hour he gave me the missing motivator "compassion", then I saw her pain as if I was experiencing it myself and moved into action. At the end of every Nazarene service there was an alter call. She was at the alter so I mustered up the confidence to "no matter what" obey Christ. I walked up the isle and knelt next to her. After a moment or two I said I would like to pray with her. She said ok except she didn't understand that I wanted to lay hands on her, anoint her with oil and pray for healing in Jesus name. Once that was out in the open her heart hardened. No way. That doesn't work and we DON"T BELIEVE IN THAT here. I told her that the Lord told me to do so and at the same time prayed "Lord you have to open her heart". He did and she finally allowed it. Having prayed there was no immediate results and by faith I left her none the better for all the struggles it took to happen. As I walked away I prayed Lord if you don't touch her I will have much trouble from her on Sunday.
Well Sunday came and the first thing I seen when I entered the church was this woman streaking toward me with this (anticipated) aggravated scowl on her face. Then she lit into me with "I was never in so much pain in my life Thursday, Friday, and Saturday"!!!! She said all of a sudden it came to mind that she had to believe in her healing to receive it. Must have been the Lord speaking to her so she did the right thing and knelt down to pray with weeping because of her hard heart. Healing was immediate and complete. Pain gone. Then a big smile came over her face and she thanked me for having compassion and praying with her.
Here is an example of so many things having to do with faith and obedience on both the side of the receiver and the minister. Now this was about healing with a church member someone who knows Christ. Lets look at another one with a non believer.
By the time this healing happened I had grown in grace and faith for a few years not withstanding that during this growth period many manifestations had happened.
I was working with a small Coke Battery maintenance crew on Zug Island, Delray, Michigan. The company we were working for was at best austere and cruel. The job was hot and the safety equipment at best meager. The foreman's were at best yes men and belligerent. Working was dangerous and we had to be ready to work in between pushing coke. One of the employees on the crew was at best an immoral drug user who had no qualms of making mock of me, God or anything of faith. He came in that day with his middle finger twisted out of joint and at a 90 degree angle to his hand running sideways along his other fingers towards his thumb. His hand was huge and the pain was intense. He showed it to the boss and he said that he had to work anyway or we would be short on the crew. He added that if he couldn't do his job he would be fired, a bad situation for a drug user. As the four of us stood around waiting to hit it and get it I suddenly felt compassion for this man and without word or guaranty from the Lord I offered to pray for his hand. It went like this: "you have mocked Christ with both your living and your words even while having been exposed to the Gospel by myself and others. Now Christ will heal your hand as a manifestation of His love to you, then a decision must be made as to "what will you do with Jesus?" He said he would do anything to have his hand made whole. So as 3 of the other crew members stood and watched, I anointed his hand with oil and commanded healing in the name of Jesus. We all watched as his finger went back in place, (no one touching it) and the swelling went down and he was made whole. No one there was a believer but me but all were saying (quite naturally) praise the Lord and thank you Jesus. He began to jump around praising God and laughing. He showed the foreman who had seen his hand previously and his response was: "get back to work". A prophesy followed for the young man that was healed saying that if he didn't embrace the Gospel of Christ many bad things would follow. Many years later we worked together again on another job and he confessed to me that he did't head the prophesy and the many bad things came to pass. Here is a partial list: Shot once, stabbed several times, nearly beat to death on more than a couple of occasions, and hit by a car. This is a partial list. I believe by faith that God will bring him in because faith is the evidence of things hoped for.........and I hoped and prayed for his salvation. I have enough faith that I don't have to see the answer to all the prayers I have prayed on the immediate basis, I know they are answered otherwise faith is not faith.
These are just a couple of examples of the manifestation of God in my life with many more to be added to this blog in the future.
A note to all believers that read this: most of the miracles that I have witnessed in my serving God has been at work more than in the church. Each of us should be doing our part to turn the world upside down as the Lord wills.
Grow in grace, faith, and obedience.
God Bless and Keep
Love in Christ
Jerrold Cavasin
No comments:
Post a Comment