prayer studies

Dear Oaks,

 

Empirical studies on the effects of praying have been around for years.  For example in the 1950’s William R Parker from Redlands University in the USA developed a programme of prayer therapy groups.  He tracked various individuals and he was convinced that prayer in the name and Spirit of Jesus Christ had noteworthy effects for good.  

 

In 1988 Randolph Byrd, at the University of California San Francisco Medical School published a report on 393 coronary care patients who had had heart attacks or severe symptoms.  It was a double blind study; neither the patients or the medical staff knew who was being prayed for and who was not. 

 

The results were so impressive that every major TV network and newspaper in the United States reported them in some detail.  Of the patients prayed for, significantly fewer died, fewer required use of the most potent drugs, and not one had to be put on life support. 

 

Larry Dossey M.D. conducted ‘prayer experiments’ with non human forms of life, such as germinating seeds, plants and bacteria and found that prayer was effective in changing the state of the original object of prayer.  What is more prayer was as effective from a distance or when an object was placed in a lead-lined box that shut out all known forms of physical energy-waves, particles and so on.

 

I am in no way qualified to know if this constitutes good scientific research or whether it proves anything or not.  What I do know is this: “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask for anything in my name and I will do it.” –Jesus Christ (John 14:13f).

 

I have just received an email with a testimony from a woman in Sweden for whom I prayed about two weeks ago.  She was partially deaf and tells me that God has completely healed her.  The promises of God are eternal and it is certainly “in his name” (that is, in his character) to open deaf ears.  Thanks be to God, and what an amazing privilege to know that in Christ we are called to exercise His Kingly authority over all within this fallen world that does not bow before His loving and wise rule.  

 

On November 9^th we are having a Guest Healing Service at 4:30pm.  If you, or anyone you know, wants healing, come along and let each one of us be ready to pray and see what The Great Physician does amongst us!  Please do think seriously about whom you could ask along.

 

Every blessing,

 

Mark

an e-mail from Bill Johnson’s ministry

Dear Oaks,

 

This week I draw heavily on an e mail from Bill Johnson’s ministry.  It certainly got me thinking.

 

So often the high water mark of achievement is seen in the completion of a building project (certainly when 216 happens, as it will, I will celebrate it as a miracle) or money for a mission, care for the poor or some other good deeds.  These are all part of the gospel of the kingdom and rightly we should do them, but once the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead made his residence within you the bar of expectation was certainly raised also.

 

At this point which happens for everyone who is really born again in the Spirit (the only way to become a Christian), powerlessness became inexcusable. “What the Spirit once did through Jesus he now wants to do through millions” –Bill Johnson.  It is amazing to think that when this happened God was drawing us in to a lifestyle of the impossible unless we were willing to be in a truly intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. At that point nothing is impossible with God!

 

Quoting BJ once more “every command of the Lord comes equipped with the grace necessary to enable you to obey it.”

 

“Truly, truly anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He (or she) will do what I have been doing. They will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

 

By the way the Greek word used for greater refers to quality and not to quantity in the 45 times it is used in the New Testament.  Please don’t ask me to explain!

 

In the next two verses Jesus goes on to underline the adventure we are called to in Him. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name (meaning consistent to my character) so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask for anything in my name and I will do it.”

 

All of this as I have already said demands intimacy with the Holy Spirit. On Wednesday evening at Church Central we shall be re-visiting prophecy as it is vital to intimacy, for it is to hear the Father’s voice.  I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there at Acton Green Church in Cunnington Street W4 at 8pm.

 

Every blessing,

 

Mark