Blind Eyes Open
One of the greatest statements I ever heard was from an 86 year old missionary who said, “We lost the mission in a meeting.” When we lost the mission we also lost the power of the Gospel. Paul says, “And my speech and my preaching werenot with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4)
One of the most challenging verses for every Christian is Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” All my life I wondered why we don’t see these things in most Christians lives. The answer, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you peoplesee signs and wonders, you will by no means believe” (John 4:48). These signs will follow those who believe the key word here is believe because when we believe we will build God’s kingdom and these signs will follow those people.
Recently one of the men in the School of Discipleship was getting some deliverance for strongholds. We were almost done when God stopped me and said, “No, you have to cast out a spirit of infirmity.” I was a little stunned but did what I was told. All of a sudden the man started to declare oh, my, oh, my, I can see, I can see. When I enquired about what he meant he told me that he had been blind in one eye for many years. The doctors called it a type of stroke and he had no use of the eye. But now he could see perfectly. This man, we will call J, has been faithful to cooperate with the process of discipleship and now God has healed his eye. When I read the above verses I am reminded that God is still doing signs and wonders today but not to entertain but to guide us into being formed into His image. The mission is where God’s power and glory still reside but we must go into the entire world, including our neighborhoods, and make disciples. So what are you saying? God’s purpose is to make us one, as John 17:22 states. He will accomplish this as we make disciples and allow God to form us into His image. God has given those in this process all the power and authority they need!
We rejoice at all God is doing in the School of Discipleship, there are many more miracles and stories of God’s power and grace. We hope to keep you updated! Thanks so much for your prayers and support.
Thank you for your prayers and support
Dr. Stephen Gray