- Dec 18, 2017
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Dear Friends,
I am really puzzled about the almost complete absence of a central aspect of Jesus ministry in the Christian world today.
When Jesus broke into the world He immediately demonstrated spiritual authority over powers and principalities that were binding peoples lives with sickness, disease, mental illness, physical deformity, etc. in fact He made a point of sending a message to John the Baptist that these things were happening as evidence that the Kingdom of God was being manifest with Him the awaited Messiah.
These signs were also present in the early church and believers were expectant to see even greater things than those evidenced in the ministry of Jesus.
Today the prevailing world view is that these conditions should not be considered to have a spiritual aspect, a clear denial of the Word of Jesus.
This is not only a position held outside Christian circles, but inside as well.
Some folks have even invented a theology to account of the absence of the ministry of Jesus in their midst.
My journey has been quite different. Jesus was my 'childhood hero' and I longed to do what he did. This led to a radical wilderness walk and He allowed me to go down - down - into depravity, in order that I might see first hand His Saving power and authority in my own life.
Being a rebuilt prodigal son, captive for a time by the demonic, I can now clearly see the true nature of the battle.
After seven years of prayer and restoration, and more than five years of constantly reading Scripture I was finally ready to step out with His presence and simply obey His Word to pray for others.
My testimony is to Honour Him alone as without Him there is nothing.
I prayed for a complete stranger in a park who had been in the RCMP drug squad was shot in the legs 11 years back and couldn't walk flat on his feet. Jesus healed this man in a few moments and as he walked up and down praising God and trying out his new walk. I was literally jumping for joy.
I prayed for a boy at a Church meeting who was having grand mal seizures. His parents met me 18 years later to confirm he was fully delivered and healed from that day.
I made a cold call on a Pastor who I had never met - as a complete stranger. As we prayed he slipped to the floor holding his throat pleading for prayer. Jesus showed me how to pray and deal with the spiritual root of his problem. His ministry was transformed as a result.
His spirit urged me to drive urgently to a house in Jerusalem, where I prayed for a lady having a heart attack, her auntie had died of the same symptoms at the same age. She was crying out not to be taken as her children were still young. She was healed in about two minutes. Again her condition had a spiritual root. We followed her progress for some years and there was no relapse.
These are a few of many wonderful incidents of being called to partner with Him that His Glory be seen.
These events do not happen every day - reading Paul one might think he was experiencing such things regularly when in fact his story spans many years.
So I simply want to say that His intent is that our lives have the excitement of seeing Him move. It starts with being completely sold out to Him - not fearing total commitment - but through obedience seeing His order established in our lives. Simply obeying His word, praying for the sick and leaving the results up to Him.
I don't see it as being a special gift - He is the special gift. Where He is, the Kingdom signs are manifest.
With me, these wonderful experiences are generally happening in the world, not in the church.
I am largely unknown but at 72, I need to encourage others that we can partake in His work, it is more than a dream.
Lastly, I am not a flake, my day job is associated with the aerospace industry, I am happily married with 5 children, my wife is special partner with deep faith in Him.
Bless you all,
Carl Emerson.
I am really puzzled about the almost complete absence of a central aspect of Jesus ministry in the Christian world today.
When Jesus broke into the world He immediately demonstrated spiritual authority over powers and principalities that were binding peoples lives with sickness, disease, mental illness, physical deformity, etc. in fact He made a point of sending a message to John the Baptist that these things were happening as evidence that the Kingdom of God was being manifest with Him the awaited Messiah.
These signs were also present in the early church and believers were expectant to see even greater things than those evidenced in the ministry of Jesus.
Today the prevailing world view is that these conditions should not be considered to have a spiritual aspect, a clear denial of the Word of Jesus.
This is not only a position held outside Christian circles, but inside as well.
Some folks have even invented a theology to account of the absence of the ministry of Jesus in their midst.
My journey has been quite different. Jesus was my 'childhood hero' and I longed to do what he did. This led to a radical wilderness walk and He allowed me to go down - down - into depravity, in order that I might see first hand His Saving power and authority in my own life.
Being a rebuilt prodigal son, captive for a time by the demonic, I can now clearly see the true nature of the battle.
After seven years of prayer and restoration, and more than five years of constantly reading Scripture I was finally ready to step out with His presence and simply obey His Word to pray for others.
My testimony is to Honour Him alone as without Him there is nothing.
I prayed for a complete stranger in a park who had been in the RCMP drug squad was shot in the legs 11 years back and couldn't walk flat on his feet. Jesus healed this man in a few moments and as he walked up and down praising God and trying out his new walk. I was literally jumping for joy.
I prayed for a boy at a Church meeting who was having grand mal seizures. His parents met me 18 years later to confirm he was fully delivered and healed from that day.
I made a cold call on a Pastor who I had never met - as a complete stranger. As we prayed he slipped to the floor holding his throat pleading for prayer. Jesus showed me how to pray and deal with the spiritual root of his problem. His ministry was transformed as a result.
His spirit urged me to drive urgently to a house in Jerusalem, where I prayed for a lady having a heart attack, her auntie had died of the same symptoms at the same age. She was crying out not to be taken as her children were still young. She was healed in about two minutes. Again her condition had a spiritual root. We followed her progress for some years and there was no relapse.
These are a few of many wonderful incidents of being called to partner with Him that His Glory be seen.
These events do not happen every day - reading Paul one might think he was experiencing such things regularly when in fact his story spans many years.
So I simply want to say that His intent is that our lives have the excitement of seeing Him move. It starts with being completely sold out to Him - not fearing total commitment - but through obedience seeing His order established in our lives. Simply obeying His word, praying for the sick and leaving the results up to Him.
I don't see it as being a special gift - He is the special gift. Where He is, the Kingdom signs are manifest.
With me, these wonderful experiences are generally happening in the world, not in the church.
I am largely unknown but at 72, I need to encourage others that we can partake in His work, it is more than a dream.
Lastly, I am not a flake, my day job is associated with the aerospace industry, I am happily married with 5 children, my wife is special partner with deep faith in Him.
Bless you all,
Carl Emerson.
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