Jack’s Deere’s “Why I Am Still Surprised by the Spirit: Discovering How God Speaks and Heals Today” walks the fine line of personal testimony and historical/theological analysis as he tackles the subject of the Holy Spirit, “signs and wonders”, and healing in today’s church. At one time Deere was an avid naysayer of healing in the modern church–as a seminary professor he scoffed at what he viewed as snake oil salesmen purporting to heal amidst overwrought theatrics and questionable motives. All that changed when a pastor named Dr. John White led a prayer service at his church that culminated in a miraculous event after which Deere clearly heard God’s voice call him to repentance for his arrogance and lack of faith. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to John Wimber and “praying for the sick became a permanent part of [his] life.”
As someone who has spent several years in Africa and befriended many missionaries, I’ve never doubted that God still heals today but I’ve never considered it as something attainable in my own life or for my own loved ones. Deere’s story has changed my mind because he doesn’t focus on healing or miracles except in the context of an intimacy with God the creator. These things should glorify God–should focus people’s eyes upward–never on the person or on self-gratification
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Notes
98 Rebuttal against Hebrews 2: 3-4 used by cessationists.
114 Scriptural reasons that God heals:
Because he is asked
Because he has compassion and mercy on the sick
To bring glory to himself
In response to his promise to the elders
In response to faith
To lead people to repentance and open doors to the gospel
To remove hindrances to ministry and service
To reach us about himself and his kingdom
To demonstrate the presence of his kingdom
For sovereign purposes known only to himself
120-121 We tend to doubt God’s goodness, especially when we are asking for something big. We believe Satan’s lies that God only heals us or heals people when we/they are good. “We overcome the accuser by placing our confidence in the blood of Christ.
143 N.T. mentioned 7 specific demonic inroads:
Anger and unforgiveness
Sexual immorality
Violence
Hatred (envy, jealousy, & selfish ambition)
Occult practices
Long term idolatry
Blasphemy (attributing evil to God)
172 Part of his daily prayer:
Now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
173 1949 Scottish Hebrides revival
182 Every day I pray to be like Barnabas: “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” through whom “a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24)
205 A spiritual gift: an endowment of grace empowered by the Holy Spirit to build up the people to God
215 Best translation of the bible: “The one that says to love your enemies.” …”we don’t fail because we can’t defend our view of the millennium, we fail because we want some things more than we want a friendship with God.”
216 Pray Psalm 119: 18
Pray for God to open your eyes.
“Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
AsK God to dazzle me with his beauty (Psalm 27:4)
Ask the Father to grant me a work of the Holy Spirit to love his Son like he loves his Son.
Ask God to grant me grace to one of his friends
Ask God to let me be one of his best friends
The goal is is to enjoy God, not endure Him.
217 Before he preaches any command, he gives them a person to enjoy.
222 Christians are to focus on three things:
Prayer
Love
Spiritual gifts
227 Leaders in the church today are burning out because they are crushed by the bulk of the ministry of the church, a ministry that the church members are supposed to be doing.
98 Rebuttal against Hebrews 2: 3-4 used by cessationists.
114 Scriptural reasons that God heals:
Because he is asked
Because he has compassion and mercy on the sick
To bring glory to himself
In response to his promise to the elders
In response to faith
To lead people to repentance and open doors to the gospel
To remove hindrances to ministry and service
To reach us about himself and his kingdom
To demonstrate the presence of his kingdom
For sovereign purposes known only to himself
120-121 We tend to doubt God’s goodness, especially when we are asking for something big. We believe Satan’s lies that God only heals us or heals people when we/they are good. “We overcome the accuser by placing our confidence in the blood of Christ.
143 N.T. mentioned 7 specific demonic inroads:
Anger and unforgiveness
Sexual immorality
Violence
Hatred (envy, jealousy, & selfish ambition)
Occult practices
Long term idolatry
Blasphemy (attributing evil to God)
172 Part of his daily prayer:
Now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
173 1949 Scottish Hebrides revival
182 Every day I pray to be like Barnabas: “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” through whom “a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24)
205 A spiritual gift: an endowment of grace empowered by the Holy Spirit to build up the people to God
215 Best translation of the bible: “The one that says to love your enemies.” …”we don’t fail because we can’t defend our view of the millennium, we fail because we want some things more than we want a friendship with God.”
216 Pray Psalm 119: 18
Pray for God to open your eyes.
“Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
AsK God to dazzle me with his beauty (Psalm 27:4)
Ask the Father to grant me a work of the Holy Spirit to love his Son like he loves his Son.
Ask God to grant me grace to one of his friends
Ask God to let me be one of his best friends
The goal is is to enjoy God, not endure Him.
217 Before he preaches any command, he gives them a person to enjoy.
222 Christians are to focus on three things:
Prayer
Love
Spiritual gifts
227 Leaders in the church today are burning out because they are crushed by the bulk of the ministry of the church, a ministry that the church members are supposed to be doing.
