Gateway DTS

Tom outlined five ways we connect with God, and God with us.

1. Quality Time

2. Words of Affirmation

3. Acts of Service

4. Gifts

5. Touch

We can't live the Christian life. Well, not on our own, anyway. In fact, there's only One Christian, and only He can live the Christian life. The issue is, how do we develop the kind of life that allows him to live that life through us?

It doesn't happen on accident.

We shared testimonies, talked about praying in hospitals and some other things, then I shared about how to maintain momentum. The others had wonderful observations as well.

We finished with a time of prayer (most of which occurred after I turned off the recording) that was truly a highlight of the Healing DTS. Bryan said he was nearly too overcome with God to drive home. I think I saw every one of us weep. God's presence just swept through the room and made God so beautifully near and good.

Bryan's way is less about explanation and information and typically more about conversations with God where the Lord asks questions that invite us further along the path. This talk is perfectly in that wheelhouse. God asks us to consider what it is that we most yearn to see happen in our lives...and consider what it is that may be stopping us from pursuing that with Him...

Linda tells her story of debilitating constant back pain, and the process of coming to faith. God heals! And then a new chapter after that of learning how to live differently and steward what God has entrusted to her care...

In part one Robert told us some beautiful stories of God's grace and his repentance regarding resisting this part of the faith...and the subsequent things that God through that renewed partnership.

In part two we talked about healing as a process, medicine, diet, and had a surprising conversation about death and dying.

Dennis is a longtime friend who sees from a unique perspective. I asked Den five questions to frame our conversation...

1. How long have you been praying for the sick? What year did you start?

2. I’d be interested in hearing you recount a few notable success stories. :)

3. Would you be willing to also tell us a few heartbreaks?

4. Based on your successes, what advice might you give someone who wants to follow Jesus in this area?

5. Do you have any comfort or wisdom you would like to share concerning the heartbreaks?

Lord, I am sorry for not always using your lenses when I look at other people.

I am sorry for letting the media dictate to me what is normal and beautiful.

Forgive me for using the worldly point of view to determine who is and is not useful in society.

I break any agreement that I may have made with that point of view and give back any benefits I may have received because of that agreement.

I choose today to pick up your lenses, God — the lenses that let me see all humans with your glory on them.

Show me what they look like through your eyes.

What do you see that I have missed?

I choose to camp out with you, God, in this place of hope, knowing that there is more than my eyes can see.

Thank you that every human is fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image.

Amen.

You were designed by God to carry the Holy Spirit (I Cor 6:19).

You are a gift to the world and the world is a better place because you are here (1 Cor 12:27).

When you come into the room you bring a positive atmosphere with you (Matt 5:14-16).

God’s thoughts toward you are as numerous as the grains of sand in the ocean, and they are all good (Ps 139:17-18).

He has never left you or forsaken you (Heb 13:5).

You are beautiful inside and out, made in God’s image (Gen 1:27).

He dances over you with singing because he is excited that you are here (Zeph 3:17).

You are made for connection with God and humans right now (Gal 4:6).

The whole earth is waiting for you to know your worth so that it can be realized by all (Rom 8:19).

Today you know and honor the gifts God has made you to be, and they will be made accessible to the world around you. You have made us all incredibly rich! Thank you!

Righteousness, peace, and joy are our inheritance in Christ, and while some might say we don't need inner healing, we "just need to believe the gospel." While that pithy little statement is grounded in a correct assessment that faith radically transforms, it neglects the reality that coming into alignment with that faith will involve bringing the heart along for a journey of healing and renewing the mind, liberating it from strongholds. We don't always believe what we know, or even know what we believe. Inner healing prayer is not victory apart from or instead of believing the gospel. Rather, inner healing is the application of the gospel to the lies and wounds that are keeping us bound so that we DO truly believe.

Last week Adam Bower demonstrated and taught a fantastic "one step prayer method" (can take 10 seconds) --> ask if they have pain and command it, "be healed in Jesus' name." This method is perfect for out and about on the streets or when the issues are merely physical. By the way - testimony here - God touched the girl Adam prayed over powerfully! This week she shared that for the first time in her entire 32 years she has no pain in her ankles, which was debilitating since infancy. PRAISE GOD!!! 

Wimber/Randy Clark's 5 step prayer method (can take an hour) --> Interview, prayer selection, listening, prayer time, post-prayer directions. Good if the issue is more than simply physical or if there are lifestyle or underlying issues that cause the issue to return...

Tim's 3 Step Prayer thing - "Hey, can I pray for you? How can I pray for you? Do you mind if I put my hand on your shoulder?" That's not really a method as much as a simple way to get people praying politely...

We spent most of the evening in a healing prayer session aimed at restoring the soul. What I've found is that God will often reveal a lie, which leads us back to a wound, and as we invite God into the painful memory, he brings anointing, comfort, and love and begins to build more trust with them. At that point people can exchange their pain for something else. After that we move into either repentance or forgiveness, depending on the wound...Finally we move into asking God what the truth is, replacing the original lie. I usually also allow others present to share encouraging pictures or things God revealed to them before we seal the whole thing in Jesus' name...

The audio recording was short because the inner healing sessions are private. 😉