I think for the sake of all of us I will write about Spain - perhaps I will aim for 1 update every 2 days for this week so that you can hear all about what we have been up to...
So we travelled to Madrid, Spain to be a part of a culture of honor conference there. Danny Silk, one of the awesome senior leaders at Bethel was speaking at the conference (he has written a book called "a culture of honor" which I highly recommend).
I was asked to lead the student team when Danny and one of his staff (Jason), wasn't around. It's a huge honor. It didn't really entail a great deal, just managing the teams travel and keeping everyone informed and unified.
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| Team Spain with some of our spanish friends - Jason far right |
When the team arrived, Danny and Jason had already been there a few days running some training for church leaders. We settled in and then had a meal before being introduced to a couple of fantastic young men from the church.
These 2 young guys then took us on a quick tour of Madrid. We prayed at the city gates - some of the team had felt like God had showed them that this was significant (Lou being one of them). The temperature was cold and the windchill didn't help. When it started to rain we (I), really started to feel uncomfortable. We huddled up against giant cathedrals, hid behind tiny little umbrellas and made our way to a hot chocolate store.
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| the chocolate was literally melted chocolate - can't say i've ever had a "hot chocolate" like it |
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| We frequently used the buildings as protection from the wind and the rain - I was so impressed by the positive approach the whole team had to sometimes uncomfortable situations. |
The conference was brilliant. The audience was primarily one local church and then some leaders from around the country that wanted to hear Danny and get a hold of his message. For me one of the most exciting parts of the trip was seeing nearly an entire congregation together hearing the messages and "getting it" - I could see the "light-bulbs" turning on for people - one here, then another there then a few over there etc. I guess I enjoyed this so much because I have been to so many conferences and heard fantastic messages and then gone back home and tried to help people see and understand what i had just experienced and what I was now talking about - often after a few weeks it would be hard to tell if I had really taken anything on board because nothing in me (let alone those around me), was really changing.
Seeing a whole church go through this together was so exciting for me - they would all know what the messages were, they were all touched and challenged and the congregation as a whole was choosing to move forward with what they were hearing - forget critical mass (as a smallish percentage) - this was a whole congregation moving together.
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| The city was transformed by the setting sun as the clouds continuously changed colors |
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| We really enjoyed the food in Spain - we weren't having a romantic dinner for 2... the others just chose to get out of this picture. |
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| This is just ridiculous. after being here in the USA I don't think that this even qualifies to be called a car, it honestly could fit inside some of the cars I have driven over here |
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| Actually the small car above would have easily fit inside this one. Driving in Spain was different... enjoyable in the end...lol |
Madrid is a special and enchanting place. The people are brilliant, lots of fun, friendly and really hospitable. We saw many people healed during our time there - one young guy I prayed for had a really bad back. After a few seconds of praying I asked him how he felt and he said that it was feeling really good. The next day I saw him carrying really heavy sound equipment...I guess it was all better!
Another guy had problems with his knees for the last 6 years - "had" is the key word! He was totally healed. There was a couple there who have been in ministry for some 30+ years. They were tired, and felt a little beaten up. I got to spend some time praying for them and prophesying to them. God showed me the things that they had once had high hopes for, and the promises that He had given them. As I shared these with them they were reduced to tears. God was pouring out His love on them and affirming them. I caught up with them a number of times throughout the conference and they left totally recharged, refreshed, and with hope - the dreams they had let go of were now firmly back in their sights.
The "Culture of honor" teaching is so significant on so many levels. It brings freedom like nothing else I know (feel free to correct me and tell me that it is the Holy Spirit that brings freedom - I simply mean that He really seems to enjoy using this material). It doesn't stop at freedom however, one of the key points of the teaching is the price or responsibilities that come with freedom....to some that sounds like an oxymoron - freedom and responsibilities...YEP!
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| The city square - it was inspiring - what had transpired inside of that square throughout time?? |
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| One of the Castles in Madrid, it's easy to get lost in the beauty of the city and these magnificent buildings. |
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| Segovia was our "tourist jaunt" on the final night - we walked around the city and were captivated by the Roman aqueduct. |
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I had some really amazing times with God in Madrid. I learnt things about myself, let go of some inhibitions, made some brilliant friendships and gained lots of perspective and clarity. One of my favorite aspects of the trip was some of the conversations I got to have as we drove around and visited different places. Those from the church that drove around with us and directed us etc have commented that their lives were changed - more and more I am seeing that sometimes the "best ministry" takes place just in the course of everyday life. A conversation as we drive brought clarity and hope to some, without anyone having a clue - as far as I was concerned we were being a little rude having our own conversation.
It's hard to really give a great overview of the trip because there was so much happening on so many different levels. Even as we drove home from Sacramento airport (a 2hr drive), I had a great chance to chat and minister to members of the team - actually that chat would be one of the highlights of this year so far.
We as always would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have - actually sometimes i think it would make life easier because I would have something specific to talk about....lol I will honestly attempt to get a blog about Latvia up within in the next 48hrs - though this one has taken me much longer than I could have imagined.
On a personal front Lou and I are making some really big decisions about next year. We would really value your prayers for us. Love always Shane n Lou.
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| This is point zero. All measurements pointing to Spain are measured to this point. It's a calibration point. |
 Okay so I lost the plot with this one! I grabbed Lou's umbrella twirled it like I was a professional dancer and frolicked around the light pole much to the amusement of the locals. |
Hey Shane! Am glad to hear that you and Lou are settling right into life in the US.
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering if a prayer for healing is ever denied? It sounds like stacks of people are being healed but has there been many no's?
Answer in 2 parts:
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah
It’s great to hear from you – thanks for your questions. I hope you guys are all going fantastically.
Sorry for the delay in reply – I lost it just as I was about to post it online…
I have changed your questions slightly to deal with the lines of thought behind them – I hope they make sense. Basically I have changed your questions to:
1) Does God ever say “no” to a healing?
2) Have I experienced people not being healed? If so how do I understand that and deal with it?
Let me start by saying that my sister still has diabetes. She is actually living here as well, has seen many people healed and yet hasn’t been healed of that as yet. One of my good friends has seen some of the craziest miracles I can imagine and he sees them consistently yet he suffers from health issues. I can’t make sense of these, don’t excuse them but also don’t allow them to form my theology or doctrines. I’m not interested in closing my eyes or pretending but equally I am not interested in settling for less than what I read about in the bible about the life of Jesus.
1) I don’t believe that God ever says “no” to a healing or a miracle. I look at Jesus as the perfect example and I never see Him say “no” to a person who comes to Him or calls on His name. Isaiah 53 talks about healing being available by His stripes or wounds. Some would contend that this is simply our spiritual healing but apparently Jesus didn’t get that memo. In John 10:10 we are told that Jesus came to bring life to the full – I understand this to be mind, body and spirit.
In 2 Cor 1:20 we read, “for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. I understand that our role of speaking out that “Amen” is through believing what He said and acting upon it – in this case by praying for people to be healed.
Is it possible to think that God is better than He really is? If I am going to make a mistake in how I understand God I want it to be this rather than the opposite – I don’t say that to be smug, I have decided that the God I read about is so incredibly loving and kind that lots of my positions were dishonoring to Him – I don’t know any earthly Dad’s that want their kids to suffer – even if it does teach them a lesson. God is so much better than any earthly Dad.
So the question that arises from some at this point is “did Jesus’ suffering and death provide for salvation and healing – I feel that amongst others Isaiah 53 answers this. They are listed separately – I think deliberately.
2) I have experienced people not being healed – it sucks. Let me deal with how I understand this first.
There are 2 main factors that are common in a person not being healed – this isn’t a hard and fast rule or a doctrine but a common experience with biblical premise (I say that more to emphasize that I am not trying to be dogmatic). The 2 are faith and forgiveness.
A lack of faith is a real problem. I believe that only the person releasing the healing needs to have faith – Jesus said the prayer of healing pray offered in faith – that is that the person praying has the faith for it. I know that in the past I have prayed for people more out of sense of obligation that real faith – truth be known I expected nothing to happen – I had more faith in nothing happening than in God coming through – I think that this then shaped my experiences (I want to be careful that this isn’t misunderstood to be a “blame” mindset – I am simply acknowledging that in the past I held many positions that undermined any faith that I might have had. Jesus said it is impossible to please God apart from faith. He also said that He could work with faith as small as a mustard seed.
Answer continued:
ReplyDeleteJesus spoke directly about unforgiveness and the problem it is. I have often seen it be a cause for sickness as crazy as this may seem. On numerous occasions I have been praying for people and not seeing breakthrough as I have become accustomed. I will normally pause and ask God for some extra insight – on many occasions I will receive some information about unforgiveness including a specific person.
On some of those occasions I have seen people acknowledge it repent and forgive and receive immediate healing and then I have seen others acknowledge it but not forgive – on those occasions I will bless them but move on.
I think I have dealt with faith and forgiveness enough, so now onto how I will handle a situation where a person isn’t immediately healed. Firstly the goal when I pray for someone is to have them encounter God and to at least be reminded in a fresh way of His love for them. The healing is definitely a goal but all signs point to something. In the bible healings are frequently grouped as “signs and wonders” so with that in mind I want the sign to really be a pointer to the healer – God – His great love and compassion.
If a person can’t tell an immediate difference, I will encourage them to keep a look out for signs of improvement in the days to come. (Look through our past blogs to find one about a year ago from our time in Mexico City – there is a brilliant example of a young boy who was 100% deaf and a month later had 60-70% verified hearing – needless to say it changed the life of him and his family). I have no idea why but sometimes I have seen people have what we term “a progressive healing”.
I work from the position that God wants the person healed. With that in mind He wants to reveal blockages (mindsets that He honors (including a lack of faith) and unforgiveness). Often I am prepared to spend a significant amount of time with a person till they get what they came for (not that more will tip the scales so to speak), but I have often found that people after a few minutes feel awkward and don’t really want to sit before God to search it out – I should check with others to see if they have found this – it might be peculiar to me (pointing to a problem with how I am interacting with people).
At the end of any time of praying for a person, as they are about to leave I want to ensure them that God loves them and that He has amazing plans for them. I never assign blame tell them to fake it, or try to make an excuse for God. I will also often let them know of the next opportunity they can come to get prayer (if it’s at a church or conference, which is normally within 24hrs), and I’ll invite them to come along to it.
Okay so I think I have given a big enough answer to also deal with some of the associated questions that often are posed. If you have any more questions let me know – writing this (even for the second time...lol), has been really good for me as I have considered the process that God has taken me along to get to this point. Much love to you, Chris, Inda and Noa