Podcast-Feed11th July 2010 - Phil Hardy, David Palmer and Lesley Watmore - Prophecies and Words
Following Dave’s preach on signs and wonders at the Regional Meeting there were three prophecies and words.
(Starts at 0 mins) Phil Hardy – Prophecy about how God is calling us out as a people and how He will give us opportunities to put into practice what we’ve been hearing about. We will be effective across the Peak District.
(Starts at 3 mins) David Palmer – Word about how we are in God’s security. Our risk in His certainty.
(Starts at 4 mins 30 secs) Lesley Watmore – Word about how our sins being remitted (no longer due to be paid by us) so that we can get up and walk.
Listen now! (0:08min / 4MB)
11th July 2010 - Dave Harper - Why Signs And Wonders?
Dave spoke at the Regional Meeting about Signs and Wonders as an expression of the compassion and love of God and its essential place in mission
Matthew 9:35- 10:1,7 was the passage used with cross reference to John 2:11, 14:38 and Micah 5:4. Also Mark 16:20
Jesus the good shepherd has compassion on the crowds who were helpless and harassed and so commands them/us to pray for more workers to help to bring lost sheep into the flock of God. The language is that of harvesting the crop. The first implementation of this is the twelve disciples are sent out to preach the kingdom and to heal the sick and drive out demons. In verse 7 Jesus says GO and preach and heal. Healing and miraculous signs are part of doing mission and presenting the gospel.
As we go, we preach which may mean anything from fully fledged preaching to sharing with a friend or colleague. Only 2 of the disciples were preachers as far as we know but they were all commanded to speak out the gospel
We have been given authority by Jesus to heal the sick and drive out demons. It is already given and as we use that authority we will grow in faith and assurance and ability in using it.
Church planting and signs and wonders are part of our DNA as a church and it is time to intentionally pursue more church plants across the Peaks and beyond. Signs and wonders are not an end in themselves but part of this mission and a revelation of God’s love for the poor and needy.
Questions
After the sermon on the mount Jesus healed first a leper, then a gentile ruler then a woman. (Matt 8:1-16) Matthew finishes this sequence of healings with “He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick”. Given that he healed ALL the sick then the examples chosen must be intentional.
What do you think is the significance of these 3 examples?
Is there any connection to the passage used in Matthew 9:35-10:1?
Jesus gave authority to the 12 to heal the sick and drive out demons. This was repeated with the 72 others and then to all who believe in him. How can we use and grow in that authority?
The context was to go and preach the gospel of God’s kingdom (v7). Preaching doesn’t mean only ‘preachers’ but for all of us to speak about this kingdom. What to say?? Would you consider going church planting?
[The prophecies and words following Dave’s preach are available as a separate audio file.]
Listen now! (0:45min / 22.5MB)