Trust and Obey

We are about to complicate the truth once again and I was reminded of something that took place nearly 15 years ago.  I don't share in the enthusiasm for "Miracle Revivals," "Healing Crusades," or "Chasing Demons."

These three examples, of many, are what it takes to be saved, healed, or delivered. Touching but the hem or fringe of His garment, one touch of His hand, or as the case in Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.   It doesn't take a special trip to some stadium, or a special book of prayers which come off sounding more like incantations.  Nor does it take one special believer over another.  It takes Y'hshuwah!  Yah is salvation!  It takes the touch of our Creator, not the touch of a particular human.

In studying the gifts of the Spirit after being shown the counterfeit, my theology has changed a bit.  When I first became a believer, I asked for the gift of discernment because I believed everything everyone told me and I knew I could easily be misled.  I confessed that and received discernment, but . . . it wasn't to be held or displayed, the gift was to be used, shared, and gifted on, and through the years of ministry, I've also been given other gifts of the Spirit, at the time they were needed.  I don't walk around claiming any special exclusive right to a particular gift, I'm filled and surrendered to the Great Spirit of the King of the universe.  He can operate in any manner He chooses and He can use me in any of the manifestation He chooses to use me in, provided I remain yielded and obedient.

I remember when the Word of Faith guys left the large denominations to start their own non-denominational churches.  They are today's 50 -60 something televangelists.  I met some of TBN's Big Names when they were just home town boys in the 90's.  There were just too many pastors and not enough buildings!  Now, I'm watching the movement again in the latest move of believers who have returned to Torah obedience.  There are more teachers than students . . . and the move toward recognition is gaining ground in this latest movement.

We've gone from church buildings on every corner and three synagogues in every town to mega churches outside of town to television church, now to social media fellowship.  Everyone and their brother has their own youtube channel, myself included . . . All of this has taken me back to a time in which I got to witness a move of G-d, by simple obedience . . . after a clear rebuke and prodding.

I was visiting a church back in my old town.  It seems, even though I facilitated a mission, none of the fellow ministers took me seriously, so I was always invited to come hear them preach . . . and I think I visited just about every church in that town and much of the surrounding area.  I also attended both synagogues.  By that time the Orthodox synagogue was no longer standing.  As I sat on the back row of the Independent Christian church that Sunday morning, something clearly struck me about the sick list.  In all my visiting, I noticed the churches that had communion every week, had the longest sick lists.  I also noticed, the weekly communion was just a part of the morning ritual.  It was usually right before the offering, so while the bread and wine[juice] was passed, there was change clanking and envelopes rustling.  I encourage all to read the entire context of I Corinthians 11 regarding the matter.  Here is verse 30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Following communion and the offering, was the offering prayer, and through that a woman began to cough and couldn't stop.  Abba told me to go lay hands on her.  I informed Him, "they don't do that here."  Yes, I said that to the Creator of the universe.  The pastor ended the prayer and asked one of the young people to go get Sister Opal a drink of water.  I was still feeling the urging to go lay hands on her, but still unrepentantly trying to think of how to squirm out of that situation.  The conviction was heavy as the Pastor said, "She'll be back with a glass of water for our Sister, meanwhile everyone turn in your hymnal to page 360."  The song was "Trust and Obey."  With that, I asked forgiveness, laid down the hymnal, and went and laid hands on the sister's upper back.  No fancy prayer, no fanfare, I just laid my hands on her back below her shoulder blades and the coughing ceased.  That healing, certainly had nothing to do with the vessel who was used, it was simply a touch of the Master.