Healing is a Part of the Great Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

A distinctive characteristic of a great move of the Holy Spirit is that igniting outpourings occur simultaneously in multiple locations. This has been taking place within our own PRMI sphere of activity. We have witnessed Holy Spirit outpourings at all of our spring events, including Dunamis projects, the Advanced Course for Healing and Deliverance, and our healing week. We have also witnessed it at events with Jewish Messianic Leaders, the Preparing for the Next Great Awakening Event, and various prayer gatherings for awakening and revival. Healing has been a central part of these outpourings, a sign of the anticipated coming revival, which may lead to the Next Great Awakening.

We just completed the Equipping for the Next Great Awakening at the Community of the Cross, June 6 – 11, 2022. Thank you to all those who prayed for this event and those who were able to attend. As we reported in Discerning the Times and Moving with the Spirit, a distinctive characteristic of a great move of the Holy Spirit is that igniting outpourings occur simultaneously in multiple locations.

Simultaneous Outpourings

Indeed, this has taken place within our own PRMI sphere of activity. On June 1-3, outside of Baltimore, MD.   Doug and Carla McMurry, Martin Boardman, Laura, and I participated in the Tikkun Messianic Jewish Leaders Conference. There was a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit which took place. These Messianic leaders were empowered for ministry. At the same time, there were moves of God in 8 cities in Nicaragua. In the United Kingdom, we launched Awake My Soul, an online equipping event preparing for the Next Great Awakening. This event is taking place throughout June. No doubt there are fiery coals of Holy Spirit fire falling in many other locations worldwide. 

Preparing for the Next Great Awakening Event

I am excited to tell you about an outpouring at the Community of the Cross. This equipping event was intended for those called to ignite outpourings of the Holy Spirit in their churches and communities. The event ran from Monday night until suppertime on Thursday, and there was teaching, prayer, and practice. 

Then on Thursday night and all-day Friday, those who had been through the equipping modeled Great Awakening events that could be conducted in local congregations. These prayer times utilized Harp and Bowl, worship, and Intercession. This amazing way of praying is based on entering the prayer and praise in heaven (Revelation 5:8). Doug and Carla McMurry led this Harp and Bowl prayer. They have been praying for revival for over 40 years. 

Foundations for Revival

These prayer events were structured around what we believe the Lord has revealed to be the keys to true biblical revivals, which may lead to a Great Awakening. These are the three R.A. Torrey Keys and the two Jonathan Goforth Essentials. 

God used these elements to ignite the great worldwide revivals from 1900 to 1910. We believe the Lord is calling us to implement these elements again, so He can ignite present-day outpourings so that 2020-2030 could become another decade of revivals. During this decade we are praying for the Kingdom of God to be advanced, the Gospel to be taken to the ends of the Earth – completing the Great Commission and so preparing for the Return of Jesus Christ in Glory. 

Martin will tell you about what happened at these prototype events. I want to tell you how the Lord interrupted our nicely laid-out equipping plans by surprising us with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and with manifestations of inner and physical healing. 

Surprised by the Holy Spirit

It was Thursday afternoon, and the topic was “the work of prayer,” including the role of prayer cohorts. Martin Boardman was leading this section. Small gatherings of people earnestly praying for revival have always been the key to revivals, and Martin is a great teacher and is anointed to lead people into that work of prayer. My role was to introduce strategic intercession and spiritual warfare, which is often the vanguard of outpourings of the Spirit. It is also God’s given means of dealing with Satan’s counterattacks, which historically have derailed or destroyed the good kingdom fruit of past revivals. 

God’s “Coincidences”

We never got to teach these crucial topics. God had other, much better plans. He led us into the work of prayer, intercession, and spiritual warfare by arranging a divine interruption. A couple at the event received word that friends were, through a series of “coincidences,” just a few minutes away from the Community of the Cross. 

They were in the area because she had just received a diagnosis of a potentially terminal illness. The prognosis was not good. At first, she would lose the ability to speak and then the ability to breathe. The couple were reeling from this terrible news and were up in our mountains seeking solace in prayer and the love of family members. They were highly effective missionary leaders in a denominational stream that, while evangelical and committed to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is very closed to the present-day manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let me tell the story as best I can while keeping much of it intentionally vague to protect confidentiality. 

Subject to Changes at the Leading of the Holy Spirit

As he was leading on Thursday morning, Martin was notified of this situation. There was the request: “Would there be any possibility for this couple to come by so that we as a gathered group could pray for them.” Upon receiving this request, Martin, learning of the situation and this couple’s strategic role in global missions, struggled with what to do. He said, “This seems to be from the Lord; let’s take the risk and shift what we were going to do; after all, we state that our events are subject to change at the leading of the Holy Spirit.”

When they arrived, I was struck by this lovely but tormented couple; they were in their fifties! They appeared in the prime of life and ministry yet were now struck down by this death sentence diagnosis. While not apparent to us, she was already experiencing the disquieting symptoms of this disease. There was a shroud of despair upon them which pervaded the back room of the Log House. It seemed to quench the joyful praise we had just moved out of. 

Remembering the work of the Lord at the Tikkun Conference

I was on point for this assignment, and I really struggled with what to do and what God would do. To me, it seemed like we were facing a wall of total impossibility. At that moment, the Lord, in a powerful way, reminded me of what had happened at the Tikkun Messianic Jewish conference the week before. 

The Holy Spirit had fallen powerfully upon me to work through the prayer I had been praying based on Acts 4. 

And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant Your servants to speak Your word with utmost courage— while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy Servant Yeshua.”

Act 4:29-30 TLV 

Stepping into Guidance

I heard the Lord say, “Now this is the time! Step into the work I have called and anointed you for!” My first and desperate prayer was, “Ok, Lord, please give me the gift of mountain-moving faith to open the door for you to manifest your healing, loving presence.” The next urgent prayer was, “Lord! What do I do now?”  

I received the guidance the entire group needed to participate in this. And that the Lord wanted to speak to them as a group to bless this couple. It was also the opportunity for everyone there to step out in faith and obedience. So we gathered around the couple who were seated. I explained the guidance I had received. Then the Lord said, “Hold on, I am anointing each of them for this ministry of signs and wonders and to proclaim my Word with boldness.” I was led to lay hands on everyone there. As I did, I could see manifestations of the Holy Spirit. We prayed for the couple to know the love of Jesus, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to receive all the Lord wanted to do.”   

We began to get clear guidance through words of knowledge. At the same time, there was a true manifestation of the love of Jesus Christ as the group laid hands on them. There were also many tears.   The words of knowledge let me know that this would get deep and personal and that we needed to shift into two small groups. So a group of men went off with the husband. At the same time, a group of women went out with the wife who had received the diagnosis. 

The Work of Prayer 

The rest of us continued to pray and began debriefing the corporate session. The couple rejoined the group just before dinner, and we debriefed and shared a prayer of blessing. The shroud of death and despair had lifted, and both had been transformed. They had experienced deep inner healing and some manifestations of physical healing. She was able to do some things that she had not been able to do before the prayer.   Please join us in praying for a complete healing miracle. They left rejoicing, and so did we.  

This prayer work continued as we moved through two prayer events in which we prayed for awakening, revival, and outpourings of the Holy Spirit. During the closing session of the prayer on Friday, Mary Sterenberg led as we prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring empowerment and saw the Lord move powerfully in people.

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Holy Spirit Outpouring

Here is Mary Sterenberg’s account of that outpouring

I was comforted by Brad’s presence, walking around the back perimeter of the Prayer House, interceding for me. Martin and Lonnie stood on either side of me like Aaron and Hur. I also knew my intercessors (and others) were praying for me, and I felt covered.

It was significant that Brad came and whispered in my ear at the beginning, “Step out in your authority Mary.” Brad also anointed me with the laying on of hands, and two others came up and prayed for me before I began.

Motivated by Love

I began talking about Love being the motivation for prayers for revival. We must focus on God’s love for us and our love for God. Lonnie led us in songs confirming this, “Jesus Loves Me,” “I Love you, Lord,” and “My Jesus, I Love Thee.” 

I transitioned out of the song “My Jesus, I Love Thee” as the song I asked the congregation to sing at my Profession of Faith (POF) at age 16. I made Profession of Faith 2 years earlier than my peers in my catechism class because I wanted the whole church to know how much I really loved Jesus. He was very real and personal to me, yet I thirsted for more. 

I had not heard much about the Holy Spirit in my Christian Reformed Church upbringing, and I didn’t even know He is the missing piece that I longed for that would begin to quench the thirst and longing in my soul for intimacy with God. The first step in seeking the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to Thirst for God.

The second step is to Expect that God will come and He will show up and do signs, wonders, and miracles today.

Surrendering to Jesus

I mentioned that coming to the end of ourselves and willingly surrendering our all to Jesus is key to receiving His Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Many often get off the bus here because we like to be in control and fear surrendering everything to God. But we must daily surrender, not just once, although this may mark the initial Baptism in the Spirit. 

I shared a prayer that I often pray for God to take all of me and use me for His purposes. I surrender my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my nose, my hands, my feet, all of my body, my soul (mind, will, emotions), and my Spirit to the Lord Jesus to use me as He wishes. Then I need to get out of His way and obey Him.

Repentance

Next, I talked about the need for repentance, and even though we do not need to be “perfectly holy,” we do need to keep a short record of wrongs and forgive as soon as possible those who offend us. I opened the floor for prayers of repentance, both silent and corporate. What followed was a beautiful, sincere crying out to God in repentance of many sins in us personally and in our world. 

I noticed some in the group were lying prostrate on the floor or kneeling in humility before God, and I could sense His presence moving among us powerfully. One attendee described to me afterward that he “saw in the spirit” a burning fire all around the floor of the prayer house that got higher and higher with each step we prayed.

Ask in Faith 

Then the next step is to ask in faith for the Spirit to come and to be poured out upon us. Luke 11:9-13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” I prayed for the Spirit to come upon us, leaving plenty of time for silence, waiting, and receiving. 

The participant who saw the vision of the fire in the room described seeing the dove representing the Holy Spirit descend upon us. Finally, he described a huge pillar of fire that fell upon the group gathered in the prayer house.

Anointing and the Laying on of Hands 

I felt led to invite those who desired the anointing of oil and the laying on of hands to come forward to Martin or me, and quickly two lines formed. I noticed several people in Martin’s group falling under the anointing of the Spirit. I did not ask anyone what they wanted prayers for, but the Spirit gave me prophetic words for everyone who came forward. 

There were manifestations of the Spirit in tears and smiles and the shaking of my hands. When the final person came to me, I anointed her forehead with oil and then touched my hand upon her head to pray, and we both were bowled over unexpectedly and with a great spiritual force that knocked us down on the floor.

After I got up, I suggested to Lonnie that we sing a song praising Jesus, and we sang in glorious harmony the doxology,

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN!”

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A Foretaste of Revival

I believe this entire experience was a foretaste of God fulfilling our prayers. In this great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we will be empowered to speak the Gospel with boldness in the power of the Holy Spirit. God will truly stretch out His hand and work signs and wonders, especially those of inner and physical healing and deliverance from evil spirits, as evidence of His Kingdom.

Jesus Christ calls us to participate with Him in preparing for the Next Great Awakening in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Please join us in praying this into reality and join us in being equipped to take part. This will depend upon all of us saying Yes to Jesus Christ! 

Ways You Can Pray

Here are some suggestions for ways in which you can pray

• Pray for believers to boldly witness for Jesus Christ.
• Ask the Lord to show you who you can pray for, and witness to.
• Pray that churches would become places where people can experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
• Pray that Spirit-filled churches would be empowered to touch their communities with the gospel.
• Pray that the Lord would raise up intercessors who will pray and intercede for outpourings of the Holy Spirit.
• Are you called to pray and intercede for the Next Great Awakening? – Let our prayer Mobilizer, Martin Boardman know (martin@mobilizingprayer.org)