Deliverance

Foe months, I have been wanting to see the Holy Spirit use me to heal someone.  After the gathering yesterday, Peter called me over to join him in praying with a man who he had already been talking to for a bit. Almost immediately, I noticed strong alcohol on his breath, and could tell by his speech that he was intoxicated.  The man was feeling guilt, shame, and fear from his past.  We shared the good news of Jesus and His forgiveness, and led the man to put his faith in Christ and receive God's forgiveness.  Peter said, "OK, now Shane is going to pray for you, and God is going to deliver you."  I put my left hand on his right shoulder and my right hand on his forehead, and I began to thank the Father for this man and ask the Holy Spirit to come.  Within a minute, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, even in my legs, and I felt him flowing, so I asked for more, and more.  The man was overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit, and he slumped down on the floor.  Peter and I let him down gently on the floor, and we continued praying for him.  I commanded evil spirits to leave him, and I commanded his brain chemistry to return to normal.  I kept praying for the annointing of the Holy Spirit from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

Within a few minutes, he started waking up, and he was a little confused about why he was on the floor, but we reassured him and helped him to his feet.  It was obvious that he was sober-minded and able to talk and reason more clearly than before.  (And later, Peter told me that he sensed demonic presence had left while we were praying for him.)  We gave him a Bible, and I encouraged him to start reading the Gospel of Mark because in the first chapter Jesus casts out demons and heals people.  We talked to him about learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and to ignore the enemy.  Peter got a word for him to not touch alcohol, and we encouraged him to stay in freedom and not open the door for demons to return.

As we were walking out, he said that he had bad knees and that his knees were hurting.  I prayed for him several times, commanding the pain to leave and flexibility to be restored.  He was amazed after walking down the stairs from the front porch and down the sidewalk a bit that his knees were so much more flexible than they had been in years.  He said that he used to walk like a penguin because his knees were so stiff.

He told us that he had promised to meet a friend at the library so that they could check their email for job offers, so we took him to the library.  On the way, he told us about a repetitive dream that he has been having the past several months about him being a drummer in a church praise band and giving God the glory for his ability.  I encouraged him to take a step of faith towards that by practicing with one of our church praise teams.

I hope that he continues walking in freedom and that God uses him to bring freedom to others.

Father, thank you for the opportunity to be used by you.  Jesus, thank you for your victory.  Holy Spirit, thank you for flowing through me and delivering this man.  I look forward to the next opportunity.  I love you.

Snake in the fire

Acts 28:1‭-‬6 NIV

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

The Lord showed me that there is an analogy here.  As followers of Jesus, we are light in the dark, we kindle the fire of God's love to warm those who are could.  And as we do, driven out of hiding by the heat of God's love, the enemy comes against us to steal, kill, and destroy.  But through Christ, the fatal bite of sin, as well as the other attacks of the enemy, are ineffective against us.  We should shake off the snake into the fire that we are building.  This is a foreshadowing of the eternal destiny of the Serpant.  A signature of the sons and daughters of God is that we walk in supernatural protection, abiding with the Father.

1 Corinthians 15:54‭-‬58 NIV

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Father, you are merciful and gracious to us. Jesus, you already won the victory.  I want to walk in your supernatural protection and provision.  Holy Spirit, show me how to shake off the snake into the fire.  I love you.

Supernatural and reason

Acts 4:10‭, ‬14 NIV

"then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." ... But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

Reasoning is a gift from God, as long as it is submitted to the Lordship of Christ.  But if we are not open to supernatural interruption by the Holy Spirit, then our reasoning can limit us to the natural and block us from experiencing the goodness of God.  By definition, supernatural experiences are not explainable by natural reasoning.

Father, open us to supernatural interruption by the Holy Spirit today.  Holy Spirit, we welcome your thoughts, and we welcome your miraculous powered.  We welcome your desire to dispense yourself through us.  We are your vessels.  Use us supernaturally!  We love you.

Ruidoso retreat last weekend

We attended a retreat in Ruidoso last Friday and Saturday with Adrian and Kayla's and Josh and Olivia.  It was very encouraging.  We had a great time in praise and worship every session. Josh taught on Friday evening about intimacy with God by way of Moses and the bush fire, and how that private experience prepared Moses to publicly go to the mountain fire.  Olivia shared about how they have continued to take steps of faith and obedience and have seen the Lord continue to increase their ministry.  

Brandi spoke in toungues for the first time. That was amazing. And another significant moment was during one of the worship sets, she asked the Lord, "What do you look like?" And He replied, "I look like the smile on your child's face.  I look like the beauty of the mountains.  I look like your husband's face when you walked down the isle on your wedding day.  I look like your parent's face beaming at you with pride."

A couple of impressions that I walked away with: I want to continue taking steps forward in faith and obedience, and I want to take a two day fast to ask God for more hunger for Him.

Father, thank you for continuing to grow us closer. Jesus, we want more. Holy Spirit, we want more.  I love you, and I trust you.  

Brandi's first personal spiritual retreat

Brandi spent last weekend (a week ago, Friday afternoon through Sunday morning) at a casita outside of Las Cruces, just her and the Lord.  Nearly 48 hours with the simple goals of resting and connecting with God.  Probably the longest duration by herself in her life.

Brandon and Sharita have been encouraging us for several months to take a personal retreat, and we finally made it happen for Brandi.  I am so glad that we did.

I think the time was very valuable for her to rest, reflect, and hear from the Father.  From my perspective one of the key advances was a closer relationship with God as Father and daughter and realizing that she does hear his voice.  He showed her several lessons when she was hiking the Dripping Springs trail on Saturday.  The Lord told her that spiritual breakthrough was like reaching the springs and that once you reach a new level of breakthrough, it is downhill from there.  As she neared the springs, she smelled a beautiful fragrance, but other hikers and even the park rangers didn't seem to notice the fragrance.  I think Brandi was walking with the Lord, and she could smell the fragrance of the perfume that Mary poured on Him. I am excited about how Brandi is growing in intimacy with the Lord!

Father, thank you for providing this opportunity for Brandi to connect with you.  Thank you for the blessing that Brandi is to me and our children.  Thank you for continuing to reveal yourself to Brandi and for growing her closer to you. I love you, and I ask for more.