Christ followers bring encouragement and healing to people as they continue the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Saul deciding to deny self take up his cross and follow Jesus, as recorded in Acts chapter nine, brings peace to the church that had become scattered from Jerusalem due to the persecution spearheaded by Saul.  It’s in this peace that we see Peter at the conclusion of Acts chapter nine leaving Jerusalem and visiting those who make up the church in the surrounding areas bringing encouragement and healing to them.

Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
(Act 9:32-35 ESV)

Peter went to the people and did not expect them to come to him.  Peter could have stayed in Jerusalem and been comfortable as a leader of the early church, but he didn’t.  He couldn’t and be a Christ follower.  Jesus did not stay in the synagogue on the Sabbath and expect needy people to come to Him.  Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to direct His steps as he went and ministered to people at their point of need every day of the week.  And now we see Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, following Jesus and continuing His point of need ministry. 

Peter knew that within himself, he could do nothing.  He knew the source of healing was Jesus Christ.  Through the knowledge given by the Holy Spirit, Peter was able to tell Aeneas that Jesus was healing him.  Aeneas had been paralyzed and confined to a bed for eight years.  Peter would not dare say these words unless the Holy Spirit prompted Him.  He spoke the words and the healing was immediate. 

This miracle was instrumental in the residents of Lydda and Sharon deciding to become Christ followers.  They could not deny the healing power of Christ when they witnessed this man walking again after eight years of bed confinement.

We need Christ exalting miracles in our day and I believe that they will increase as more and more people decide to shake off the shackles of dead stale religion and deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus.  I believe that in the last days, there will be a supernatural reaping of the harvest of souls that is already ripe for harvest.  Christ exalting miracles will draw people to Him.  I’m not talking about superstars making a circus out of faith healing.  I’m talking about common folk, full of the Holy Spirit, continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus on a daily basis wherever the Holy Spirit directs them.

Christ followers minister encouragement and healing at the point of need.  They rely on the prompting of the Holy Spirit knowing that they can not heal, but Christ will heal.  They are willing to go instead of wait; act instead of just attend.  They know that Jesus will do the rest as they simply follow Him.

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Know that you are loved,

@PastorGreg
Founder
www.LovingGodFellowship.org