Almost seven times in the book of Matthew, we see that people were healed of sickness and pain because Jesus touched them. He saw past their symptoms, outside their illness, and through their scars. He saw the genuine need: the requirement for touch.
And, that healing touch transformed lives again. This is one need that has not vanished in the two thousand years since Jesus walked the earth. Today, we almost never see the word "touch" without some reference to scandal, impropriety, or immorality. How did this amazing word get so maligned? Ministry needs our hands.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are as He will's not as we will - however He will's more than we will.
We are called by God to announce Jesus Christ to the planet. Why is it that we think this can only be done with our mouths? Rather, God has empowered each part of us for the task. We touch lives not only by telling other people about Jesus, but also by showing real love and compassion to them in their need.
Our hearts, mouths, and hands must be operating in perfect concert to do the type of world-changing mission to which we've been called. And, when we join together as a body of followers, we must touch lives through the power of prayer. Similarly , the unified church presents a mighty tool of teaching, discipleship, and fellowship that calls in the lost and provides the saved. Jesus touched lives.
As His fans, the Church - and you - must do similarly
Rodney Howard-Browne was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and grew up in the Eastern Cape and Transkei. His other half, Adonica, was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and raised in Johannesburg. Rodney gave his heart to the Lord at the age of 5 and Adonica gave her heart to the Lord at the age of 17.
They met and married in 1981 and immediately went fulltime together into the traveling ministry. Over the next 6 years they traveled across Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe and Namibia, evangelizing the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. In 1983, they pioneered a church in the Northeastern Cape and pastored there for two years.
Rodney and Adonica, and their ministry team, under the banner of Revival Ministries International, travel about 46 weeks of the year, holding weekly meetings in towns across North America and around the world. They also priest a church in Tampa, Florida, The Brook at Tampa Bay, which they set up on December one, 1996 and which now has three thousand members.
In the summer of 2001, the Lord sanctified them with a gorgeous two year old building on the main highway that is worth twice what they paid for it! In 1997, they started the Stream Bible Institute, coaching scholars in the Word and the Spirit, imparting into their hearts both a spirit of evangelism and of revival. They also started an online version of the Bible College , permitting scholars of each country, with access to the Net, to participate.
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