Get up and walk

Last night, Saturday, we had an incredible church service at Pastor Emmanuel's church in Efife. Because of national elections, they held their service on Saturday night. However, they decided to make it an extended "all night" service of prayer and ministry. 

The service began at about 9:00PM and lasted until 1:30AM. It started like many other gatherings with praise and worship followed by a powerful message from Pastor Emmanuel about the authority of God's Word. However, at 11:30 the focus shifted to a very interactive and intense time of corporate prayer for the nation of Ghana. This lasted about 45 minutes which took us into Sunday - the day of the elections.   

At this time, worship erupted like I had never experienced before (and I have been in many worship services). The whole place was singing and dancing. It was unbelievable. There was no holding back. Full-on worship like no other. The Holy Spirit was present in a visible and powerful way.  You could literally see the presence of the Holy Spirit.

But wait, it wasn't over yet. Just when you thought it was time to go home, Pastor Emmanuel called an older man to be brought forward that had been crippled for four years. Since 2004, he couldn't walk. He was lying on a mat at the back of the meeting. His legs had very clearly experienced significant atrophy - they looked like sticks. Pastor declared that he would walk tonight. Even at that declaration, the man who was being carried to the front, began to walk on his own. He walked about 12 feet down the center isle to the Pastor and stood before him. This man hadn't walked for 4 years! Pastor Emmanuel called me over as well as other prayer ministers and we prayed for this man. He then walked another 50 feet before sitting down because of exhaustion. Did you hear what I said? The lame man walked! "Get up, take your mat, and walk." - Mark 2:9 

A healing service had broken out. Many were healed. I prayed for a woman who was limping because of an injured ankle. She was jumping around the sanctuary after prayer. We prayed for people with stomach pains, headaches, leg pain - they were healed. We prayed and prayed. I was exhausted. 

"And these signs shall follow those who believe: in my name they will ... place their hands on the sick and they will get well." - Mark 16:17-18. Hallelujah! This is good news and it is alive and well.