Stepping into Deep Waters. An Overview on my mission trip to Brazil.

I have a new T-shirt, that says “Agua profundas é onde eu query estar”, from Ezek. 47.  That’s Portuguese for “Deep Waters is where I want to be.”  The shirt was a thank-you gift from the charismatic presbyterian church (ICP) of 2500 in Ponta Grossa, where I participated in a five-day healing conference (12/ 7-11) with Randy Clark, the Founder and Executive Director of Global Awakening. (All 120 of us on the team received a similar gift.)  That statement may explain the “why” I went on that short-term mission trip. I want to be in the spiritual deep waters of supernatural healings. It was a trip like none other.“Deep Waters” referred to are the waters of the Holy Spirit flowing from the temple in a prophetic vision that Ezekiel had.  These waters brought healing and spiritual fruitfulness.  I did not realize before the trip how profound this experience would be.  Nor did I realize how scary and awesome the ministry of healing can be.  But in the course of one week this Global Awakening team directly participated in over 1500 physical healings, 1200 inner healings, and fifty salvations.  We (as a team) saw 50 people with blindness and 35 with deafness healed and many other miracles.When healing did not occur we saw the love of Jesus poured out on people repeatedly, as seen by their tears, their laughter, their soaking up God’s presence.  I had the privilege of being hands on with a man who had been deaf for 12 years due to a fire cracker wrecking his ear; Antonio’s hearing was completely restored.  A mother and daughter had had chronic stomach pains; together they were healed.  I participated in growths and tumors disappearing, “infertile” wombs getting a charge of Holy Spirit fire; and people with depression and suicidal behavior finding the joy of the Lord. I prayed for a new mother who had such severe pain in both wrists she couldn’t hold her baby.  Her pain level went from the high of 10 to zero during our time together.  When I asked her if she wanted me to pray for anything else, she said, “I want to lay my hands on people and help them heal, too.”   Best of all was my experience with a crippled woman, Rafaela — a special story for another time.For six days and nights we were on the front lines of God’s kingdom, calling upon the Holy Spirit for power, fire, creativity, and freedom. Does this sound like I’m bragging?  I hope not, although there is a bit of holy pride within me.  (I confess anything not pleasing to the Lord.) I feel gratitude for having been allowed this privilege. Was everybody who came for healing, completely healed?  I don’t think so, because God’s timing on healing is different with every one.  There are immediate healings, progressive healings, and sometimes no healings.  Some of us saints die even after healing prayer.  And herein lies the price we pay if we enter into a healing ministry — there is sorrow and grief, apparent defeat and mystery.  My key message to you is this: You can do this too!   If you have Jesus Christ in your heart, and you believe he came to live, die and be resurrected in order to heal people, deliver people, and save people for eternity, you are as equipped as I am to step into these deep waters. You have the Holy Spirit, who is the one who does the healing.  Abba Father wants to heal through you.  This is His Kingdom business.  Not only can you heal, but it is part of your commission: “to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.” (Mat. 10:8).The price you pay?  the willingness to accept the suffering when you see defeat. But with the risks you take to be used by Jesus for healing, you will experience the blessing of victory. And in every case, you are the “hand of God” to touch a person with Our Father’s love, regardless of his physical outcome. In Christ,