Update #83

“I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do---yes, they will do even greater things" John 14:12

The Indonesian Venture Team prepping for white water river rafting on Saturday

“The Holy Spirit is for conviction only. The gifts listed in I Corinthians 12 (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, languages) aren’t for the modern church – they were for the believers in Acts so they could spread the gospel to the world. That stuff doesn’t happen today.”

Does the above statement ring true with you? Is this your belief as well? If you laughed when you read the opening paragraph you won’t have too look far to find those who do subscribe to this philosophy – most of the Western Church sees the Holy Spirit this way.

Have you ever had the uncanny inkling to call someone? Have you ever left the house only to realize that you forgot something and went back to get it? Have you ever been niggled to bring something extra on a trip only to have someone need it? Have you ever read something and have it come to mind later when you are speaking to someone? Have you ever been praying and had a picture pop into your mind? Have you ever just “known” something and not know how you “know”? Have you ever just “bumped” into someone and after parting felt that it was just what you needed – they said just what you needed to hear?

All of these instances have the sweet scent of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit does convict, warn, caution, advise against, counsel and forewarn – but it does so much, much, much more.

Jesus said in John 14 that if we believe in him we will be able to do what he did – actually he said that we will do even greater things than he did! What did Jesus do? He healed the sick, raised the dead, prophesied into people’s lives, he walked on water, escaped danger, had foreknowledge of events, supernatural wisdom, and loved the unlovely…

Jesus was fully man – who was filled by God’s Holy Spirit enabling him to do the signs and wonders that marked his ministry. If you are a Christ follower, if you have accepted Christ as your savior, then Holy Spirit dwells in you and the same power Jesus had is yours as well. If you are following my logic, you can heal the sick, you can raise the dead, you can you prophesy, you can have supernatural wisdom, and yes, you can even walk on water. The key is having the Holy Sprit and following his leading.

Lately I have been reading incredible books telling stories of what God has been doing: Beyond the Veil (China late 1940’s), The Heavenly Man (China modern day), The Mighty Wind (Indonesia 1970’s), The Happiest People on Earth (Los Angeles 20th Century), and More than Enough (England and Africa, modern day). I have attended conferences and met people who are healing the sick, raising the dead and one man had experienced transportation like Philip in the New Testament! I have talked to people who God has healed of cancer, have had their stomach and intestines rebuilt, who have seen, danced and spoken with angels and a few who have spoken to Jesus face to face!

I was sharing this with a friend who had a hard time believing that God is still interested and active in today’s world. “Either you are crazy or this stuff is really happening.” Um, I am not crazy.

God is still interested. God is still active. And God wants to be known by the world – in fact, it is our job to reveal him to them. It is a really hard mandate to carry out on our own – but with the Holy Spirit is in not only easy but tons of FUN!

Updates:
Living – I am living with my relatives, but the Johnsons have made an offer on a property in Los Gatos (close date, October 28th) and so I will be moving in the next few months. Check out the blog for details http://campus.inst.net/
Work – Travel season is winding to an end. We are all on our way home, I and Rebecca are taking a short detour through Thailand before we head back to California. The Indonesian venture was an incredible success and we had several miracles occur. See the team blog for more details www.repurposing.biz/jakarta-november-2008/
Purpose – I wasn’t able to raise a committed intercessor team. BUT, I believe that several clients and consultants “tasted and saw” prayer in a much different and more powerful way and because of that are praying more themselves. I count that as a victory!
Travel – heading to Thailand, then the long journey home to California. I will be in Seattle for Christmas.

Requests:
Housing – the house on the property will need remodeling/updating before anyone takes residence so I will be staying with my ever-so-gracious relatives for a bit longer (Praise God for them!) – hopefully the March timeframe will bring a move to the new rēp Bay Area Headquarters.
Work – please pray for my return home that I will be effective and efficient in my processes – I have quite the back log to attend to! Finances to process, consultant records to update and send, email to address, etc…as well as my personal mail and finances!
Travel – please pray for me as I travel. I have a really strange flight path. Please ask that my luggage arrive WITH me, that my luggage remains “underweight,” that my cold dissipates so I don’t have problems on the plane, and that I am able to sleep a bit.
Financing – I rely solely on donor support. If these devotions have touched you, caused you to see God differently, or altered your outlook on life AND you are interested in contributing toward my day-to-day needs or to my travel fund, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

Blessings,

Dena

PS. Happy Birthday Allie G! and Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans.