Wow.
Ken and I have been privileged to live a miracle-filled week – God is doing great things in us, around us, and through us and many of our friends. Revival is breaking LOOSE in the Piedmont!
We were at our “church after church” (Barnes & Noble @ Oak Hollow Mall – come join us next Sunday night) last night and everyone was sharing their experiences with the Lord over the last week. Someone remarked…
“Wow. Y’all are LIVING the Acts of the Apostles. Right here and now.”
He’s right… we are. I think we’ve seen about every spiritual gift and manifestation other than raising of the dead in the past week and I believe that’s coming soon. The most important thing is that people are being transformed from darkness to light and set ablaze for Jesus! But Jesus did not come only to save us and give us that far-off life in Heaven (even so, daiyenu! It would have been enough, but He did MORE – exceedingly, abundantly MORE) - He came to save, heal, deliver, cleanse, raise… He came that we may have life, and have it MORE abundantly. (Luke 4:18, John 10:10)
Ken and I were discussing this on the way home last night – why? THANK YOU LORD but why now? Why us? What’s different, that we’re suddenly starting to see these things happening?
I believe it’s because we have been asking God for these things to happen and making ourselves available for Him to use us in any way He chooses. “Here am I, Lord – send me!”
Over the past year or so, I have asked God directly for a variety of things… from seeing angels to prophecy to the ministry of healing to discernment to interpretation of tongues to enhanced ability to lead people to the Lord… and my Daddy gives the best gifts. No, He’s not Santa Claus… and asking for these things is stepping onto holy ground. If you’re not willing to use His gifts correctly, don’t ask for them until you are. Remember the lesson of Matthew 7:21. And no, these gifts are not going make every problem in your life magically go away.
Someone told me a ways back that since 1 Corinthians 12:11 says “distributing to each one individually as He wills”, this means that people are only given one gift… maybe two if they’re very, very holy and very, very lucky. But when I look at people in the New Testament, they moved in many gifts – prophecy, healing, discernment, faith – so how exactly am I any different from them? (I’m not – God’s no respecter of persons.)
So… I asked… and I received. (Eagerly desire the best gifts – 1 Cor 12:31) You can receive, too. “…how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13) Simply say, “God, use me… here am I, send me…” and then step out in faith.
Do you HAVE to move in the gifts (or speak in tongues) to be saved? Of course not. Romans 10:10,13 lays out the conditions for salvation. But here’s the thing: God WANTS to use you, He WANTS to give you the best gifts. He WANTS you to move in His power and authority. He WANTS us to minister healing, deliverance, and salvation. He WANTS us to take back our cities.
Will you dare to ask Him for His best gifts, that you can minister fully and effectively to those He loves? Will you dare to believe that the book of Acts should be how we live our lives today?* Will you dare to surrender totally to Him?
* If you’re having a hard time believing – find some Spirit-filled believers who are living Acts – or come hang out with us @ New Day for a few days. 
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