I am in Huntington Beach, hosting a class being taught by Dave Householder for The Master's Institute Seminary at Robinwood Church. It's good to be here with Dave, with my good friend, Tom Brashears and his family (I'm staying with them), and with so many other friends out this way.
This morning I'm meeting with the Lord in the Gospel of Mark, reflecting on the story in Mark 9 of the father who comes to Jesus to ask healing for his son; the father who famously states, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief." Another friend, Vineyard pastor, Jack Moraine has written a good and helpful book on Christian healing and in his book as he examines this story he notes some interesting things.
First, that Jesus expected his disciples to be able to minister healing and deliverance; expected them to be able to naturally move in God's supernatural power.
Second, that it does not seem to take perfect faith to lay hold of the healing power of Jesus. The father comes, as many of us often do (I sure do) with a mixture of faith and doubt. However, the father does not let the doubt keep him from acting on his faith in coming to Jesus in the first place, believing Jesus has the power to heal his son ("Lord, I believe"). And Jesus responds to this mixture of faith and doubt by healing the son! An imperfect mixture does not keep Jesus from responding. Thank Your, Lord of mercy and grace. Jack notes that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the presence of belief. And the father acts on his belief in Jesus.
What really catches my attention this morning, however, is what Jack notes about Jesus' interesting statement that these demonic forces only come out by prayer. He reminds me in his book that the time to be praying for the sick (and the demonized) is before we come to minister to them. Our moving naturally in the supernatural power of Jesus flows out of an ongoing relationship of intimacy in prayer. The time to pray is before we get there.
So, with that in mind I'd like to ask you to be praying now for the ARC Southwest Gathering on July 13-15 in San Diego, CA. Please join me in praying now, before we get there. Let's be praying now for keynote speakers Pete Greig and Kristi Graner that God would be speaking to them and working in their lives, preparing them for the time they'll be with us. Let's pray now for Danny Mullins who will be our primary worship leader that God be speaking to him and working in his life to prepare him for this time.
And let's be praying now for all who the Lord will draw to be there those days. Let's be praying now that God work in our hearts in such a way that we will be open and receptive to the God breakthroughs He wants to encounter us with, and for the ongoing fruit of these encounters He wants to mark our lives.
Thanks for joining me in praying now, before we get there.
In God's Unshakable and Extravagant Love,
Mike
