|
|
Bob Brasset: An Adventure In Healing
April 14, 2005
Bob Brasset: An Adventure in Healing
Australian Outreach Tour: February/March 2005
By Ross Wakley, Pastor Metro North , Dural, Sydney, NSW
Brisbane
Now it was time to “hit the road”, so the team of seven Canadians and ten Aussies headed up the highway for the twelve hour drive to Brisbane. The cars were actually moving prayer meetings, as we frequently prayed for the conferences ahead; looked to God to bring full healing to Franklyn from severe chest pain [which God answered] and to heal his son, David Elliott of a badly upset stomach [he was powering on leading worship by the end of that day]. We stopped overnight at Grafton and enjoyed seeing God at work.
On arrival, the motel receptionist (Marilyn) asked Ross what our team was doing. He shared the story of the healing conferences and Bob added a story of healing. We suggested that the team would welcome the opportunity to pray for her or other staff members before we left the next day. She later said, “I’ll take you up on that offer.” Next morning, after the reception area was quiet, Bob popped in. “I’ve got severe stomach pain. I have an ulcer from the tablets I take to relieve migraines.” Bob invited Jesus to heal her and she burst out, “No more pain!” Some motel guests arrived, so Bob grabbed the space to get a tract and then, when it was quiet again, shared Jesus and share gave her life to Him after many years as a lapsed Catholic. Rejoicing broke out!
We traveled on to Brisbane, settled in with our host families and that night, Thursday 24th February, we began the Brisbane Adventure in Healing conference.
The Canadian & HRA team met with the full team from Brisbane during the day on the Friday. Brisbane Faith Centre, centrally located in the suburb of Cooparoo. Hundreds of people attended during the conference.
Bob and Franklyn shared great messages that inspired faith, taught Jesus’ approach to healing, lifted vision and directed us to the model of Jesus: just love people and let God do the rest. Bob’s superb manual, An Adventure in Healing was a key resource in many of the messages and provides an ongoing source for Biblical and practical teaching on the ministry of healing. Healing people for God is easy. We don’t need to get complicatedthat just erodes faith and anointing. Bob constantly modeled and lived his talk on the ‘love anointing’. Over the various conferences, we observed that among both the team members and those people who attended, that we were changing our paradigm, to learn to operate more from love, grace and trust in Jesus than ever before. For the team having the opportunity to spend bulk time with Bob, we observed [and then wanted to catch] that he operated from his spirit [not the mind]. He ministered to people with absolute confidence in God. What ever need we faced, “This is easy for Jesus” was Bob’s declaration!
During this conference we witnessed many healings: a woman with hearing aids gained perfect hearing, the lame walked as they were healed by Jesus and a pastor with tendonitis was instantly and fully healed. Many healings were documented by those Jesus touched.
Allen Remley honestly and insightfully shares this story from Brisbane: The first night was a nightmare for me. I wandered over to where Kath was praying for a lady. I had no idea what the condition was so I just placed my hand on the ladies head and she was immediately overcome with the Holy Spirit’s presence and began to fall backwards to the ground. I was afraid that she was going to hit her head on the floor so I reached out to grab her hand to steady her not realizing that she had jut had it operated on. She cried out in pain and fell to the floor crying. The devil really had a go at me then telling me that I was the worst and most presumptuous healer in the place. It was the worst night of my life. I wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere and just disappear. The next day I saw her again and her hand was all wrapped up in a bandage and brace. I thought, “Oh no, I really did do a number on her.” Every time I saw her I wanted to move to the other side of the room. God was gracious and she really did get healed later that day. Next time I saw her she was pain free, without a brace and thanked me for ministering to her the day before. She told me how she had pressed in to receive her healing. What a lesson.
Often, during a session, Bob would invite team members to share words of knowledge eg: “there is a man here with a stiff left elbow and a bladder condition, etc.” Those people came forward, already thrilled that God knew they were there and what needed healing in them. And He healed them! As the conference kept going, faith levels soared and so did the level of spiritual authority in the team. By the Saturday evening, the worship that David Elliott led was so anointed that people were being gently “marinated” in God’s love and grace. A new level of worship was released, as King David proclaims in Psalm 24:7, Lift up your heads … that the King of glory may come in.
Springboarding from this message, we moved into impartation time. Bob and the team, set up a ‘fire tunnel’, with about twenty of us facing each other and forming an arch of hands. Those attending then slowly filed through, receiving prayer. God’s presence was so strong that many collapsed under the anointing impartation. Joy broke out and we moved into celebration mode. What a night!
Allen comments, The last night of the conference was spectacular. The presence of God was so real in the place and I found myself sitting up under one of the speakers listening to the worship till I was overcome with God’s presence and found myself crying out in tears. I am still trying to process what God was doing in me but one thing I am sure of it was an encounter with God. Later that evening we did an impartation which was powerful. I had received several prophetic words that day and rather than give them publicly I went to individuals to pray it over them. Each one was visibly moved as I delivered the words. I am encouraged that I am hearing from God.
What a terrific conference. The Brisbane HR team shared that they believed God had broken some thing over their city and that the ministry of HR would be accelerated in the city. In addition, various people chatted with Ross about starting new HR’s. God had placed a vision on five different people were keen to start new Healing Rooms in strategic locations in Brisbane, plus start one in India, Fiji and the Philippines!
All along the way, for this entire outreach was undergirded by prayer. An example: while on the road, back at Metro North, Barbara Woodone of the intercessorskept other prayer warriors ‘up to speed’ with daily email reports that both encouraged faith with stories of what God was doing and gave prayer requests for people to pray into … next email they’d hear it was answered! This helped connect those ‘at home’ with the team on the road: we were all linked together and Jesus receives all glory.
Sunday morning (27/2), the team split up to minister in various churches:
? Bob & Sue were at Fairfield Christian Family and saw a number healed by Jesus and some salvations.
? Allen & Cesar were at Cannon Hill Baptist, where people received ministry for hidden sin and others were healed.
? Franklyn & Deanne ministered at The Meeting Place.
? Ross & David headed down to Springwood Church of Christ [a conservative church] and saw Jesus heal two people and release God’s presence to some other folk, including the Pastor. Two days later, we heard the Pastor had a meeting with his leaders. He prayed for God’s blessing to fall on them. One man said he had a sore neck: the Pastor prayed and Jesus healed the chap! A woman healed on the Sunday rang all her friends, bubbling over with joy at being set free from both shingles and deep emotional hurt. The next Sunday, the Pastor shared about Jesus healing people, invited people out for healing and God’s presence fell. That church is on the move! Praise God.
Lunch for the team at Sizzler Carindale was a release of joy as we thanked God for all that had occurred in Brisbane. Back on Thursday evening, two groups of people had met: the Brisbane Healing Rooms team and the Sydney/Canadian team. Initially we were wary as we didn’t know each other. Over the three days, deep trust, friendship and unity developed. We saw in action the reality of Psalm 133:1,3: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! … For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Gold Coast
After farewells, it was an hour’s drive south to the Gold Coast to quickly settle into our accommodation. Thirty minutes from the beaches of the Gold Coast and up in the hills is the hinterland region, with expanding housing areas.
Around 1150-1180 people came. many people: cancer, wrecked shoulders, injured backs, etc. Great excitement. Malcolm & Gill comment: The numbers that attended showed that people in this area are hungry for God and his power, and are willing to travel some distance to get to the conferences. We know of many from the Tugan, Bilinga, Coollangatta, and Burleigh areas who attended. The team was greatly blessed by Bob’s gentle laidback ,but extremely effective, approach to healing and by his teaching, particularly the talk on doubt not lack of faith.
Tuesday was a day off for many on the team, with enjoyable times on the beach or at shopping malls. It was in this context that Alex Somos modeled marketplace ministry mixed with the right use of a word of knowledge. As the Lord gave him a ‘word’ for a person in the shopping mall, he’d wander up, ask if they would mind if he shared an insight Jesus had given him for them. He’d share it and the person would immediately drop their defenses. A natural conversation about Jesus would unfold. Having gently modeled this to some of the team, a bit later, while enjoying a latte, he’d ask one of the team, such as Sue Walker “What do you think God is saying to that person over there?” Sue would then go and share what she believed the Lord had given her for the person, only to discover that they too would open up and she could chat about Jesus with them. The knowledge that other team members were supporting her in prayer gave confidence as the team stepped out into new aspect of ministry.
That night, was the final evening at the Gold Coast. Prayer time (pre-meeting) was full of joy and expectancy. Healings abounded. It was a great night. Thank you Jesus. Subsequently, we hear of these healing stories from Malcolm & Gill :
1. Bob prayed for a young man deaf from childhood, wearing hearing aids: he doesn’t now! Praise God.
2. A serious heart condition has dramatically improved, waiting on seeing the surgeon to confirm complete healing.
3. Arthritic hands now able to move totally freely.
4. Young man with serious fear problems, had not left his room for many months, attended conference although had panic attack and left. Has since attended our healing rooms, and healing has begun. We believe just sitting in the anointing at the conference started his healing.
5. Malcolm’s hearing has improved considerably.
6. Several teachers from a local secondary school came as a group. They have spoken of little else since in the staff room, the impact on the school and pupils will be felt for a long time to come.
7. Many other healings .
Once again, we were reminded that long prayers don’t heal people. It’s simply a matter of looking to Jesus: nothing is too hard for Him. Pray short with an attitude of confident trust that Jesus will heal the person. Every Christian is able to be confident in the promises of God’s Word; to welcome the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit for life and ministry and to stand firm in our spiritual authority that Jesus achieved for us in His death and resurrection. Secure in the Father’s arms, we take hold of Jesus’ calling and imitate Him: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." Luke 4:18,19
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bob Brasset: An Adventure in Healing Part II
Australian Outreach Tour: February/March 2005
By Ross Wakley, Pastor Metro North , Dural, Sydney, NSW
Byron Bay
Early Wednesday morning (2/3), it was time for the team to part. Sue Brasset, Betsy Foord, Kathy Remley, plus Alex Somos & Christy Somos flew out, back to Canada. It was hard seeing them go. God had used them to release not only healing, but to raise faith and confidence in God among many people, plus to motivate people of all ages to “jump into the river” and be involved in Jesus’ ministry. Alex Somos comments on the trip for him: Ever since I returned home, I have been spending time with God working out all that I experienced and saw during our time. I have gone through Mark, Ephesians and almost all of Matthew highlighting all the verses on healing and faith including all the miracles with Acts next on my list. I have shared with our church all the great things He did and have been more earnestly seeking Him since. There are times when it feels like I will bust a gasket if we don't see the Lord moving in our midst with His miracles and healings...Come on Strong YAHWEH!!!!!
As far as the most memorable things for me from the Adventures in Healing it would have to be participating in the healings, miracles and salvations. The one story that is imprinted in my head is the one of the Down syndrome boy in Brisbane who received his hearing back and no longer needed to wear his hearing aids. When I say to someone who has been deaf, “can you hear me” and he turns and says “YES!!,” that is so wonderful.
The Doctor's Surgery is also in my mind, I am still relishing how God touched the girl's friend whose ankle got healed, she was watching her friend go up and down the stairs with an awed look on her face. I remember her saying " I have never seen anything like this before". During our conversation she became a Christian, received the Holy Spirit and I think saw her knee improve in terms of mobility and pain ( she had two huge scars on either side of her knee). I would love to know what happened to them after. The other story is the one at the Baptist church in Sydney with Sophiethe little girl got her legs straightened through Kathy. The mom called her husband to bring their son. I prayed for the son and felt his knees move around and he was able to kneel after without any pain.
I felt truly blessed to participate with the whole team, you have a wonderful group!
So for the next stage, the team was reduced to Bob Brasset, Allen Remley, Franklyn & Deanne Elliott, Ross Wakeley, Carole Martel, Faith Law, Sue Walker and Cesar Hernandez. This was a day we had long anticipated.
Seven years ago, the Lord directed Phil & Maria Mason to plant a church at Byron Bay. This region is the centre of New Age spirituality in Australia, and many witches’ covens are located around the area. New Earth Tribe was the name of the church plant and Phil & Maria were supported by DaySpring church from Sydney. In 2000, Graham Cookeon a visit to Australiagave a prophetic word over Phil and Maria concerning their ministry and the church plant at Byron. Graham even donated his speaker’s fee to assist the church get rolling [and he knew nothing of what Phil & Maria had been doing]. The church grew as God revealed ways to reach the people of the region. Keys were prayer and fasting; a love for all as they saw people with the eyes of Jesus; a confidence in God’s power to bring release and freedom to any person and the vital importance of worship and intimacy with Jesus.
In addition, they commenced the Deep End School of Postmodern Ministry in conjunction with YWAM [see www.newearthtribe.com]. The intercessors for this outreach gave feedback to expect God to do a mighty work for the meeting we had on that Wednesday (2/3). Although some Christians walk in fear of the New Age movement, Jesus loves everyone and New Agers are on a spiritual search. Focusing on Jesus is the approach of the team from New Earth Tribe, resting in truths such as 2 Chronicles 33:7,8: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged … there is a greater power with us than with him … with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. We joined over 100 people in a Byron Bay church and there was excitement in the air. People from the whole region had come along, plus many pastors. Worship was dynamic. Prophetic. It was intercessory worship that brought heaven down to earth. With a style similar to that of Kevin Prosch, Phil and the worship team led us joyfully into God’s presence and the place was jumping. Bob taught, shared inspiring stories and God’s hand fell on people. Healing broke free. Pastors received ministry and refreshing from God. Maria commented later, “This meeting has rearranged the deck chairs for us.” Wow! Flowing from this meeting we had interest in starting new Healing Rooms in Byron, Evans Head and Coffs Harbour. Again, one of our goalsthat this outreach would be catalytic in starting new Healing Roomswas again unfolding. Prayer, fasting and intercession had brought rolling spiritual break
-throughs and the favour of God. Allen Remley comments, What a day. The openness of this church to our message was incredible. Such freedom to minister. Many were healed both emotionally and physically. I had a real sense that the Father has His hand on this group of people and we should expect to hear more testimonies of God’s grace being manifest among them in future.
Phil Mason provided valuable feedback on the team’s visit: First of all I wanted to really thank you guys for going out of your way to come here and to invest into our lives. Many people were touched and refreshed by Bob's visit. I'm blessed to know that your time here in Byron was one of the highlights of your tour. The event certainly went beyond our own expectations. We had invested quite a bit of intercessory prayer into Bob's visit in anticipation of the seminar and we were conscious of the prayers of the saints in other places. We estimate that there were about 150 people attending the meeting which is an excellent response for a Wednesday morning in this regional area.
God was doing so much it was hard to keep track of everything that was happening. Many, many people received ministry. I saw people jumping up and down for joy because God had healed them. Many people went through some significant healing within their hearts, demons were coming out and some people experienced visions and intense revelations as well as receiving personal prophetic ministry. Others were literally overcome by the Spirit, knocked down to the ground with laughter or intense groaning. In the midst of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit God was imparting refreshing, a new level of faith and spiritual vision, intense spiritual impartation and a fresh anointing for ministry. It was an awesome day. Unfortunately we have no real way of gauging how many people were healed of physical infirmities. Many of the visitors were from other churches in surrounding regions and they slipped through the net as far as determining numbers of people healed. But my impression was that there were a number of people experiencing the healing touch of Jesus. One thing God was certainly doing was bringing a deep refreshing and restoration of vision to many.
We have heard countless testimonies of people who were greatly touched by God in their hearts and those stories are still flowing in. One lady in our church said she laid hands upon a blind woman who had a restoration of her vision. She told me the story at our local Soup Kitchen two days after Bob's visit and while she was telling me a New Age guy was listening to the story. He said that he had heard about the meeting from another New Age friend of his who has a business right next door to the church where Bob was ministering. He said that his friend could hear crying, laughter, music, singing and shouting coming from the building and told his friend that there was a beautiful positive energy coming out of the building. That's a real compliment for a New Ager! Our church, New Earth Tribe, has been buzzing for weeks since the seminar.
We’d been on the road, by now, for a week, and during that time, we’d discovered that we’re not here to pray for people. We’re here to minister God’s healing touch to a person. To release what God has placed in us. It was a shift from, “please God heal them,” to “receive your healing from Jesus.”
After an overnight stop at Coffs Harbour, the team returned to Sydney on Thursday (3/3). That night we would launch a new initiative: ACTS Citywide Ministries.
ACTS Citywide Ministries is an initiative by Healing Rooms Australia. This enables us to genuinely share that the evenings are not to get people to help build up our church, but to minister to and release people to build up God’s Kingdom. In the weeks prior to Thursday 3rd March, we’d had calls from all over Sydney, so it was no surprise to see “Vineys” at Dural [the ministry base of Healing Rooms Australia Healing Rooms Australia and Metro North Christian Centre] filled with people to overflowing!
Worship flowed. Bob shared stories of God at work. Healing from Jesus flowed for dozens of people, with many stories. A favourite: a 20 year old woman came forward. “I’m 20, but my left knee is like that of an 80 year old woman. I’ve had three failed operations on my knee.” Bob asked just to stand in the presence of Jesus and spoke the word of healing. Never touched her. After 10 minutes, he asked the woman to test the healing. Slowly she squatted. At first with a frown, then a smile and then laughter. No pain. All better. She ran around the building and then started jumping on the spot. “I couldn’t do this for years. Thank you Jesus.” Later, this woman mentioned that she’d come to healing Rooms at Dural at an earlier time but, “I didn’t trust God to do anything. Tonight I did and God healed me.” The night confirmed we were going in the right direction and we announced the next week, we’d shift to a bigger venue! Tired, but rejoicing, the team anticipated what God would do during the next stage of the outreach.
Newcastle
Bob Brasset, Franklyn & Deanne + David Elliott, Dave & Angie Hall, Cesar & Flor Hernandez, Faith Law, Allen Remley, Annette Roberts and Graydon Romcke were the team for this stage. Earlier in the week, Bob had done a phone interview with the local Christian FM stationsharing faith building stories of what had been happening to date in the outreachand this was broadcast to develop interest in the conference. It began with a lunchtime Pastor’s gathering on Friday (4/3) in a church at Cardiff. The churches of Newcastle have for some years worked in unity, based on the pastors meeting regularly for prayer, encouragement and friendship. In addition, the Newcastle Healing Rooms team, led by Ray & Ann Lang, had spent months planning and preparing for this outreach in their city. For this conference, the local Healing Rooms team put in a huge effort, the core team having met for some months to look after the logistics, provide hosting for the team and arrange hire of an excellent venue at New Vine Baptist Church, Fletcher.
Around fifty pastors attended and the luncheon was “brilliant”. Great food. Laughter. Bob took a loving and gentle approach in his ministry that was received well. A pastor was healed of deafness. Others received a deep refreshing from God. It was a great lead in to the start of the Adventure in Healing conference in Newcastle. David & the team led worship, with a crowd of many hundreds present. Bob’s teaching was well received and healing flowed as God touched lives. On the Saturday (5/3), Bob & Franklyn both ministered during the day. Franklyn gave a powerful messageA Day in the Life of Jesusalong with his vision casting message as part of the closing session. People left jubilant at the touch of God on their lives. Louise prayed for a man with 2cm thrombophlebitis (vein with a blood clot) and saw God heal it. (this section has a lot of content to be added once reports are in).
Annette Roberts comments on ‘Clinic Time’ Bob style I stood by and watched a group of 4 including 2 ‘first time prayers’ in clinic time in Newcastle, pray for a dear friend of mine who came to the Conference with to quote her, “an unbelieving scientific mind” She was profoundly set free from deep emotional pain and past anguish which only the power of Jesus can heal.
Ray & Anne Lang say, “Newcastle has never seen anything like this. The city has changed and our team has gone to a new level in the spirit and in their confidence in Jesus to heal.”
Also on the Friday, Dave Hall (a team member & chaplain for Cumberland High school), had four scripture classes. He shared what God had done ‘on tour’. A student asked, “Does Jesus still heal today?” Dave said that in all four classes (Years 7-10), students asked for prayer and over twelve students were healed. One girl had been deaf from birth, but now hears perfectly. Thanks Jesus!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bob Brasset: An Adventure in Healing Part III
Australian Outreach Tour: February/March 2005
By Ross Wakley, Pastor Metro North , Dural, Sydney, NSW
Central Coast
Sunday morning, Bob & Allen, Franklyn & Deanne, Faith & Annette traveled down to Tuggerah Lakes Christian Fellowship for the morning service. Expectancy was high. People got into worship and many were healed and welcomed the hand of God on their lives. During the afternoon, Bob, Franklyn & Deanne met with the pastoral team along with the Tuggerah Lakes Healing Room team to share more personal input and ministry. It was a great day.
The team had a real degree of excitement for this conference on the Central Coast, at Tuggerah Lakes Christian Fellowship in the coastal suburb of Tumbi Umbi. Over 22,200 people had registered, some of them people whose doctor’s had said they had just days to live. Ignoring those words, they registered in faith, believing God would heal them at the conference! Monday (7/3) was the start, with an air of expectancy ad God’s presence ushered in by intercession, deep hunger for God and the ministry the team had brought on Sunday.
Monday evening (7/3) and the church building is full. As worship kicks off the Adventure in Healing conference on the Central Coast there is a huge expectancy and hunger in the crowd that draws the presence of God. Bob preaches and people respond. A woman’s backinjured in a car accident 3˝ years agois fully healed from standing in God’s healing presence. Around twenty people give their life to Jesus. Then healing breaks free and a diverse range of healings occur.
On Tuesday (8/3), we stepped out to pioneer another outreach idea. We took the love and the ministry of Jesus into a Retirement Village called Orana Village, at Point Clare, on the central coast. The chaplainAlex Blakeis an amazing woman of courage and passion for Jesus who is part of the Metro North church. Alex has ministered the love of Jesus in this Village for over 18 months and arranged for Bob, Allen, the HRA team, some local pastors [Baptist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Catholic acolyte, Anglican lay chaplain and one Uniting Church minister] and local intercessors all to be part of this ministry session. The prayer time beforehand was superb!
By 1.30pm, over 100 people had crowded the residents’ dining room. Alex led the worship, “Jesus is Lord of Orana” with the support of a 90 year old pianist and some singers. Alex introduced all the managers of the Baptist Community Services. Staff was also present, wary about this whole thing. Bob briefly shared the good news of Jesus, a few healing stories and invited the presence of God to come to each person. He then released the team to pray for folk. Over the next thirty minutes, every person received prayer. Different diseases were healed. People gave their lives to Jesus. Far more was occurring than was immediately obvious. Alex Blake takes up the story:
The joy of the Lord has been released in this place: people in devotions this morning were in tears thanking God that He had touched and blessed them. I asked if there was anything we could have improved on or done better and they said 'no, they just loved it'. They loved the worship, they loved the prayer time, but most of all they loved the presence of their Saviour. I think the service made these old folk (most of who were in their 90’s) feel so special and loved, at a time when most of the world has forgotten them. They realised that Jesus and his Church hasn't forgotten. I noticed an 85 year old lady this morning wasn't wearing her hearing aids and asked her about it. "Oh, the Lord healed my hearing last Tuesday" she said. They are all so matter of fact about it all: we usually jump for joy and shout out loud when we see God heal the sick, but these people just take it all by faith, and in their stride. God heals them, they thank him, and they just get on with their day. One lady who hasn't recovered from a broken foot was also healed, as was a woman with a throat complaint over many years. A man's back and hip was healed, all sorts of things that I'm only just hearing about. Many have said that it's probably the first time all the central coast churches have been together to pray - and God chose Orana to do it!! Thanks Metro guys and Bob and Allen. Non Christian nursing staff noticed great changes in two residents who’d had ‘challenging behaviour’ and this was after prayer on Tuesday. I didn't even need to give the message of the gospel to these nurses at this stage, as the power of God that was at work in these folk was witness enough to them!
In addition, Ross received a revelation after praying for people, and joyfully discovering a group of praying saints. The may be in physically old bodies, but their heart is for God’s Kingdom and they pray! The concept: Through the chaplains, invite these praying saints to become part of the prayer team. Share stories of what God is doing around the nation and specific requests. Mobilise an army of prayer among people who feel ‘washed up’ and marginalized. Alex has immediately agreed to involve the Orana people in this strategy. Wow!
That evening, it’s the final night of the Adventure in Healing conference on the Central Coast. Again, over 3300 people were present, bubbling over with excitement [50% of the people were from other churches than Tuggerah Lakes Christian Fellowship]. Allen Remley shares, David began the worship and I immediately felt the presence of the Lord come into the room. I could see the Lord engaging many people at a heart level. I increasingly developed a sense of anticipation that something was going to happen. I had been asked to take up the offering and was almost afraid to do it as I thought my telling stories my hinder what God wanted to do. When I was invited forward I took the mike and began to try and talk, but the presence of God became so intense that I could not get the words to come out and I was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s compassion for the sick and the hurting in the room. I could hardly stand up under the presence as my body started to go limp. I reached out to steady myself on the podium and found myself sinking lower and lower, finally collapsing on the floor with the power of God running through my body. I tried to get up but could not seem to rise as I felt I was pinned to the floor in front of everybody. Bob took the mike and tried to explain what was going on.
For the first 10 to 15 minutes I hardly remember what was going on as I was overcome with the Lord’s love and compassion. I had the sense that something was either being bound or released in the spiritual realm. All of a sudden I felt that the Lord was going to heal some lady dressed in pink on the right side of the room. I called out to Bob and released what the Lord was showing me. The Lord gave me a couple of other things for people and they were called forward also. I was told later that all of those people were healed and that spontaneous healings happened all over the room.
Waves of healing rolled over people. Dozens were healed. Bob spoke and then we moved into impartation. The huge crowd was lined up to receive prayer (many had to move to the hallway as it was so crowded). The team was anointed and began praying for people to release God’s healing power and gifts supernaturally into them. Many people fell under the presence of God and a number received prophetic words. What a night! The drive home to Sydney was buoyed by the joy of what God released.
Wednesday and Thursday were busy times for the team of preparing for the final leg. Bob visited a compassion ministry run by Lynton & Helen Kallmier in Dundas Valley. Called CrossWay, it meets twice weekly of a daytime to provide a safe place for people who are dealing with addictions, mental health issues or at a tough place in their life. Lynton & Helen offer worship, friendship, community, a place to hear and experience Jesus. Bob went, along with Ken & Sandra Gregory to CrossWay, where the atmosphere is loving and friendly. In the context of the group, Bob shared and then the team of Bob, Lynton & Helen + Ken & Sandra, prayed for people and God moved powerfully. As Sandra commented, “God had a good time.”
Thursday evening (10/3) was the second ACTS Citywide Ministries nights. We move to the hall of Pacific Hills Christian School, Dural to fit the crowd. Eager people came, worshipped, were equipped and dozens of people were healed of emotional and physical issues. One man had been unable to stand for 20 years due to knee pain: he was healed. Another person had healing of tendonitis, prostrate pain and knee problems. Thank you Jesus.
Canberra
The team is pretty tired by now. Days have often been 15-18 hours long, yet we all experience the Lord continuing to sustain. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak … those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary (Isaiah 40:29-31) is proven true day after day. Bob models a vital reality: its not healing or outreach that is priority. It’s spending bulk time each day developing our relationship and soaking in intimacy with Jesus.
Last stage: the Adventure in Healing conference team drives to Canberra, on Friday (11/3) to join dynamic HR directors Martyn & Ros Ritchard, plus their wonderful team from Capital Healing Rooms. The conference was held in Martyn & Ros’ home church [they are also on staff]: Vision Christian Fellowship, in the suburb of Fyshwick. This is an area dotted with warehouses selling pornography. In the midst of this darkness, both the church and the Healing Rooms centres projecting the light of Jesus.
Hundreds of people joined in for worship, and we quickly sensed an anointing fall from God in response to hungry and open hearts. Franklyn & Ross shared briefly on what had unfolded during the outreach tour and Bob then spoke. He mixed ministry, faith building stories and teaching in a beautiful combination. Ministry time saw many dozens healed: sinus issues, arthritis, depression, gastro-intestinal, hearing, eyesight, leg problems, etc. A brilliant start.
Saturday (12/3) is another hot day in Canberra, however people arrive expectant. Worship is gentle and ushers us before the Lord. The two talks are powerful: Bob’s speaks on what was achieved through the blood of Jesus and Franklyn’s A day in the life of Jesus. We share communion: the whole group standing in circle, as the Lord ministers His healing and grace through the bread and wine. Martyn gently ministers the love of Jesus. What a precious time. During the lunch break, the team from Capital Healing Rooms ran an ‘open house’ in their nearby ministry centre. Many of those present visit the Healing Room and are inspired by the presence of God in that place and the testimony wall of those God has healed.
Throughout our time in Canberra, the team is blessed superbly. Afternoon is clinic time as Bob and David Elliott did a terrific ‘tag team’ on the five step ministry approach to healing. Bob leads the audience from a one-to-one demonstration, to a few people at once, to ten at once, until we have escalated to everyone either praying for a person or receiving healing. There are some superb healings. Jan Wakeley prays for an older lady: Eileen, who has hearing aids in both aids. “In the name of Jesus I command healing.” And Eileen can hear. Totally normal. Thanks Jesus. It gets better. Jan prays for another woman who has lost her healing over ten years. The Lord reveals to Jan there is an underlying cause. As the woman is lying on the floor under the power of the Spirit, she speaks, “Jesus showed me that I used to pray for Him to make me deaf to my husband’s wheezes from emphysema. Jan suggests the woman needs to repent of this curse she has placed on herself and there is a deep point of brokenness. The release! “I can hear. I can her again. Thank you Jesus.” How humbling and exciting to be a channel of God’s healing power.
Annette Roberts gives an insight on “Ministering Healing.” This is a great concept Bob taught us. One lady I prayed for listed so many physical ailments to do with aching joints that I completely lost focus. I asked her if she felt any change and she said no!, but then said the really debilitating abdominal pain she had, was gone. That, was the one condition she had not mentioned! There were many times I was unsure what to pray for so I asked the Holy Spirit to come and that’s when you could see that healing was really happening. So when you are stuck “stand back from the person you are praying for and ask for direction and be amazed at what Jesus does”. Bob talks about how you can pray yourself out of the anointing. Trying to keep the healing time simple was a real challenge.
Over the time in Canberra the Lord continues to stir interest in people commencing new Healing Rooms. Ross has people from Perth, Cooma and Jervis Bay chat with him and starting in those locations. Thank you God.
Underneath the wonderful things God is doing, in the natural, the team is finding it hard. Four weeks of concentrated ministry and travel is costly. David has led 25 worship sessions and every team member has paid a high price to serve. Not just in giving time and money. All through, there have been constant spiritual attacks on each of our families [health, relationships, etc].
However, there are many terrific blessings. Sue Walker chats late Saturday with a woman at the conference who hasfor monthsbeen praying along with the prayer strategy. Through her pastor, she’d got a copy of the teams itinerary, and day-by-day, she was interceding for Bob and the team. That’s inspiring, but it gets better! In 1998, this woman was in Toronto, Canada. Unwell, she attended a conference at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and Bob Brasset prayed for her. God made her fully well. In the goodness and foreknowledge of God, a lady He healed in 1998, He then raised up as an intercessor for a huge nation impacting outreach tour seven years later!
That night in Canberra, is impartation night . Sunday is morning service at Vision Christian Fellowship, with Bob as guest speaker. Those in Canberra travel home: rejoicing in their spirit at all God has done in Canberra. That evening, the core team of about 20 people, meet for a relaxed BBQ at Ross & Jan’s home to celebrate all that God has done. And then it’s over. Franklyn & Deanne take Bob to the airport on Monday (14/3) and he fly’s back to Canada.
Saying “thank you” to Bob and the Canadian team isn’t adequate to express all that God has done in just four amazing weeks.
Annette Roberts reflects on the trip: Finally all the Memories The Canadian team… yes, that includes you Allen (Remley), becoming increasingly overcome in the Spirit with laughter! Watching the wonder of so many deaf ears opened: lost count of all manner of joint pain and dysfunctions instantly healed: asthmas, long standing back/neck conditions gone: Bob’s teaching on the Judgement Seat of Christ in Canberra was stunning and fearsome. My life has been radically changed. In Matthew 13: 45 Jesus says “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and brought that field” Being on team and the mentoring by Bob Brasset and others has challenged me to ask the question am I really going after Jesus and His great commission to us, at great cost?
Overview
? In the six city outreach, many hundreds of people have been healed and over fifty people have given their lives to Jesus.
? People who attended have seen God raise their faith levels, give them an impartation for healing, enjoyed being together with the Body of Christ in worship, intercession and ministry.
? The catalytic effect we had prayed for has been more than achieved: churches have been mobilised and opened up to God’s Spirit bringing healing and release. It’s likely that dozens of new Healing Rooms will open around Australia and overseas, as a result of this outreach.
? The team have all gone to new levels in God: the combined effect of prolonged intercession; an attitude of surrender to Jesus; sitting in His presence and the constant inspiration of worship/ministry an seeing God at work has changed our lives for ever. Yes, it’s costly: but this is worth giving our lives for. To be part of helping see breakthrough in our nation. How humbling to be a part of seeing a new step in the harvest. Thanks Jesus.
? Malcolm & Gill: Team much more confident now. People have phoned, to ask if they could be trained and be part of the healing team. Two ladies have said they are willing to commit themselves to coming as intercessors for us. We felt God so blessed us, and are so thankful for the teams from Sydney and Canada coming, and being such a blessing. Thank you all, and may God richly bless and reward you for all your hard work.
? Allen Remley: I was impressed at how quickly Bob would minister to people and with effect as many of them testified to receiving healing in their bodies. There was such anticipation that God was at work.
? Sue Brasset: From the outset, I sensed a wonderful expectation of what the Lord wanted to do on this trip. I feel there was a great deal of unity and singleness of purpose in the teams from Canada and Australia. We had been seeking the Lord for His infilling. I was so encouraged that we had all been fasting in some form as we were able. The Australia hospitality was tops. We were treated like royalty and were recipients of mercy and love all along the way. You even put up with our jokes, or at least pretended to do so! The joy of being together was sweet. Ross, I personally want to thank you for all the hard work you had done in preparation. You had tended to every detail, even to who we were housed with. And along the way, all the working out of the arrangements was again, absolutely tops. I do pray that you will get a much needed rest soon!
At Mt Druitt, we saw fire and passion. The Lord was faithful in the beginning of the ministry. God showed up in bringing healing and freedom. I felt a little that this first conference was a time for us to 'gel' as it were as a team. I began to ask the Lord for 'words' and I sensed He gave me some - people responded when I spoke them out. I felt grateful to have this confirmed and I felt useful in the general sense of what the Lord was putting forth through Bob and the others. I am glad Sue spoke to us about coming together for prayer before the meetings. We needed the exhortation. Our 'hitting the road' was full of expectation, as well as the beauty of the Australian countryside. Thanks. What a privilege we had of taking the Lord's healing to the larger than Sydney regions. Even the time in Grafton was wonderful. The Lord wants us to know that He is with us wherever we are, in a church setting, on the road, or in the hotel / motel office. Yeah! Divine appointments. Again, in Brisbane and the Gold Coast I was receiving words. I am learning to trust what I am sensing is from the Lord and it is for a purpose to bring His freedom. At times, I was unsure of myself, but remembering that we ask the Lord to speak, He helps. How much more will He give the Holy Spirit to those who ask...He is trustworthy. I have a greater awareness of His love, even if at times I blew it. Perhaps He is wanting us just to jump in off the deep end and trust Him with the results?
We'll trust Him on that one. The meetings in the Gold Coast, although beginning with a little spiritual opposition, were also tremendous - salvations, healings, deaf ears opening, eyesight restored, pain going from people. The Lord says we win the battle with great rejoicing and we will sing His praise always. The battle is His, and we line up behind the leader, right? Yeah Jesus! At this point, Betsy and I depart, along with Christy and Alex, and Kathy previously. That's it for now from this end. I look forward to hearing more about the subsequent meetings along the way. Bob has told me by email there seems to have been times when we couldn't keep up with the healings. Yes God, do it! Show yourself strong on our behalf. Love, Sue
Location: Several Australian Cities, United States Website: http://www.extremehealing.ca/
|
|
|