The Second Story

Hmmmm, now which story to tell next?!?!?

Ahhh, I like this one! One night after my mate Gill spoke on the Holy Spirit. Well actually he just told his testimony because he didn't even really have time to get into the teaching. Anyway, after this session, he felt like God wanted to do something, so he just played guitar and the Holy Spirit came and started to move in the room. Gill asked if anyone felt like there was a barrier they couldn't overcome between them and God, one that was holding them back from getting closer and deeper with God and if they wanted to have a break through, they should put up their hand. A few people put up their hands.

Now I was having a tough day and was feeling a little distant from God and tired, drained, stressed. Lots going on and I was in charge of this road trip so their was a lot of weight on my shoulders. I didnt feel like I had very much to offer, so I just figured God was wanting to use someone else this time and I would just sit this one out. Usually when God is moving I get words in my head that God wants to speak and feel a stirring to pray for a specific person before I even choose to pray for them. But this time I had no inclinations.

My school leader (Stephen) came over and said that he felt I should pray for one of the students. So I kinda groaned in my head and because I didn't want to sell Brent (the student) short so I was hoping someone feeling more "spiritual" could pray for him. But I submitted to my authorities and told God that it was up to Him because I didn't have anything to say, no words or prayers in my heart. I walked over and laid hands on Brent and just prayed under my breath that the Holy Spirit would touch him and some other things in my head and was just going to wait see if God brought anything to mind. But before I could wait Brent just started BAWLING, there is sobbing, crying, weeping and BAWLING, and he was bawling. Everyone in the room was actually a little distracted. And as far as Brent could here I hadn't even said anything yet. I started praying things that came to mind about his family and stuff, nothing really powerful and he just kept weeping more and more intensly. He bawled for about 20 mins I'd say and I just kinda mumbled some weak prayers and kept my hand on him. I could tell God was doing something obviously, what appeared to be some deep healing.

Afterwards, after cleaning up in the bathroom, haha, he came up to me and just gave me this insane hug. He nearly broke my back. It was intense. And he said to me, "thanks for that prayer". I said something like, "your welcome man, it was all God, I didn't really have much to say". And to my surprise he started to go off on this tangent about all these prophetic words I had spoken about him and sins I called him on that I couldn't have known about, things I spoke over his future that he believed he was just waiting for and now felt released because of the prayer.

Now I know what I prayed, because it was all out of my own head, most of the time I was only praying in my head and when I spoke out all I said was stuff about his family and friends. Never, not once did I say any of the things he said I had said. Basically the Holy Spirit completely spoke into His life while I prayed one thing he heard another. The entire time I was praying he didn't hear a word I said, he just heard what the Holy Spirit translated it into in his mind. I don't know how it works because he even heard it in my voice. But it happened. Pretty crazy, but God wanted to move and no matter how I felt he was going to meet Brent that night. Obedience is so much better than any wisdom or ability we have. God has so much work to get done and He is mored concerned about having willing people than strong ones. Hes strong and able enough, He just needs His body, His hands and feet, His church to operate for Him.

I love the way God is always surprising us in totally new ways when we seek Him. Praise God.

New news would be I have been asked to go to a conference to get some further training its a two week course in Melbourne. The base is going to pay my tuition but airfare and accomodation at the YWAM base there is my own expense. So if I could just get you all to support me in praying in this money that would be amazing. Thanks so much again for all of your prayers and amazing support, I love you all and ask God for more and more of His heart for all of you everyday. Be blessed!

On the Return

I'm back from another life transforming road trip. Some completely major breakthroughs in our students and even in my own life. I'll share a few amazing stories but before that happens, I just need to share something that I found on my return.
When I returned from this past roadtrip I found out that the immigration office has been messing around with us again. They are not very favourable towards us between the immigration officer is fairly hostile towards Christians. So after lots of trouble and consulting immigration lawyers and spending lots of money on my behalf, Dave (the director at our centre) has told me they are now claiming that I never handed in my Canadian police check, which my mom mailed me and I mailed in along with all my other visa application materials. Dave also testified to this as he was with me when I sent it. Now they are saying I have 28 days (now down to 20) to get another Canadian police check to them. Which takes at least 6 weeks, not to mention postage. So as you can see I need some prayer and perhaps we can see an amazing miracle here yet again. It really is a form of persecution and while having to endure the persecution, we already have the victory in Christ and nothing is impossible for God.

Having said that, I have three stories. And I share with you my experiences, not my theology or doctrine because thats not what I live for, I live for the truth and reality of a relationship with God. And this is what I have experienced in the last two weeks.
1) We had some teaching on evangelism by fire, from a speaker from the Niagra on the Lake area. He is a man who loves William Booth and is very inspired by Booths passion, he read a lot of Booth quotes actually. Anyway, he was speaking on how to reach post-modern people and new age spiritualists in Byron Bay, there is a LOT of demonic activity and spiritual warfare in Byron. New Agers want to EXPERIENCE the spiritual realm. So they get into a lot of dark spiritual activity. And when they see the power of God move, God is glorified and you can reach them. So we talked about healings and deliverances, and miracles that have happened in that city. And at one point he just talked about how speaking in tounges helps him connect to God in some instances in His own prayer time or in spiritual warfare.
One girl who didn't really believe in tounges and was very sceptical of it was put off by this lecture, but couldn't deny the speakers heart and love for God and experiences with God. So she just ignored it. Then the a couple days later during a small worship time when we were just singing some songs to a piano, God moved in her and she started to speak in tounges uncontrollably, she couldn't say a word in english. She went to talk to her mentor Rhoda and she couldn't even say Rhoda's name. All night and for some of the next morning, she could not speak english. Since then she has been so open to the spirit of God that she has grown exponentially and is now praying for others and seeing them set free. She is leading people into new places with God and its amazing.

I will write a couple more stories within the next couple of days. Because I know the longer these blogs get the less likely it is for people to read them, haha. I know from experience!

God Bless!

Yet another Road Trip

I don't know what is so difficult about taking pictures, but I just never seem to find the time to... Anyway, I'll take some on this next road trip for sure. We are headed to Byron Bay, then Mt. Tambourine then to Noosa for a canoe trip.
In Byron Bay we are going to be training the students in Evangelism and they will have lectures on Postmodernism. It is going to be great! Our speaker on post modernism is known globally in many church circles for his ministry in new age towns and his "school of postmodernism". We are truly blessed to hear him speak! Mt. Tambourine we will be helping run a missions conference, lots of serving the long term missionarys who will be speaking there. Then we will have lectures on Holy Spirit and my friend Nathan McGill (Gill) will be speaking for that. He grew up in Taiwan as a misisonary child and has travelled right accross Asia preaching the gospel seeing many amazing works of God. He has some amazing experience from the 30 something Countries hes been to, so again an amazing time. Hes actually one of my housemates. Anyway I leave this week and just thought I would let you all know what we are up to!! Blessings to you all, pray that our students eyes would be opened to the truth of Gods word and Spirit.

Peace, Love and Prayers!