A Stadium, A Restuarant ...

Hi Everyone,

There have been two moments recently that have highlighted, once again, the heart of God for His people being conduits for His kingdom coming everyday, everywhere ...

A few Saturdays ago I had the privilege of watching England take on a rampant Springbok side at the 'Fortress', Twickenham. My brother and his wife had bought tickets for us all in South Africa - that's where they're from - so we were sitting in a sea of 'green and gold' with no few Afrikaans words being thrown around from behind us. In the midst of this Springbok hysteria I 'happened' to be seated next to a very polite English supporting couple. I am learning more and more that as children of the King, encounters are never 'by chance'. As we leapt for joy with every green shirt going over the white-wash I noticed this polite chap whincing and guarding his left arm, so I asked him if he was okay. Well, he had recently had a shoulder operation - one that I had, in fact, had 4 years before; so we started chatting ... I have to say, I was a little distracted from that point on! I have, together with so many of you, been trusting Father for opportunities to pray for people everywhere we go to reveal His kingdom, so I knew God wanted me to lay hands on this chap next to me! I was looking for the gap and it finally came a few minutes toward the end of the game as they were about to leave. He couldn't believe that I wanted to pray for his shoulder in front of 81,132 people at 'the Fortress', but he consented. After a vocal, faith-filled prayer he was not instantly healed there and then, but he knew God loved him enough to put a Believer right next to him surrounded by a sea of beer-drinking, ex-pat, cursing-at-the-ref, Springbok supporters! I was God's man for that mission and He ordered our seating for that encounter. What a privilege! I'm just learning to keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities!
More recently, we have had a spate of people in the church set free of allergies! Amazing to watch people enjoying all sorts of foods that had been 'no go' for so long, and would have put them into hospital all puffed up and gagging!! So, with this happening, a few of the guys were in a local restuarant for a meal and Steve Coopers' girl, Jess from the US, was lactose intolerant ... but not for long! She was keen to feast on a pizza, but what about the cheese ...? There were no lactose intolerant options, so they decided to pray, right there, for her healing, and ... she is now a rabid pizza-scoffing, cheese-eating, Californian in London! That's it!

God's Presence and Power cannot remain in the four walls of a building on Sunday; He longs for His kingdom flowing through our lives. So, whether it's in a stadium packed with over 81,000 people or in a local eatery, let's trust God to do fantastic stuff! Let's keep going for it! Jesus is the Head over everything for the church, His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way (Eph 1). Let Him fill the streets with His fullness through us, His body!

His Amazing Love on you!

Ryan