| Seth Barnes | The Holy Spirit is on the move | 4 Comments on Where the gospel is spreading fastest
Where the gospel is spreading fastest
Our teams in India are inevitably blown away by their experience. Taryn Neurohr’s story is typical:
Our first night in one of the villages, we were all together when we came to an older man who had been bed-ridden for three years. What I witnessed next I will never forget. The man got up on his feet and took his first steps in 3 years! I found myself in awe of what I was seeing. We all began shouting praises to Jesus and started laughing. I was STUNNED by what happened that night. I thought to myself that if I never saw anything else like that the rest of the week, that would be OK.
We went to two villages in our last day and in the first village, we prayed for a woman who had not walked in 3 days. Immediately after our prayers, she got up and walked around! In the second village, there was a man who had not walked in 6 months. You can guess what he was able to do after we prayed for the Holy Spirit to come. Aside from these people getting up and walking, we had MOBS of men, women, and children around us asking us for prayer. I had people grabbing my hand and putting it on their head just so I could pray for them.
I shared the Gospel with one man and as he prayed to receive Christ, I heard a chorus of voices repeating the prayer with him. I opened my eyes and saw a swarm of children and teenagers asking Jesus into their hearts.
Our partner in India has a plan to reach his home state for Christ. So far he’s making great progress, and he’s looking for partners. The gospel is expanding faster in that part of the world than anywhere else. Most of the 85 million people living in the state have never heard the name of Jesus. Less than 2% of the population follow him.
When a team visits a village, they earn the right to be heard by meeting felt needs. Usually they pray for the sick, and when God heals the listeners, word spreads. People see that Jesus has real power, more power than their other gods. Then they convert, choosing to make him Lord of their lives.
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Thank you Seth. I think somehow Jesus has different standards. How do we really know we are advancing His Kingdom? Love you friend…
I love these stories that witness to God’s power and His passion for His fame.
Answering Butch’s question, we don’t have to really know we are advancing Christ’s Kingdom, we just have to obey Him and be hands and feet among the poor. He’s already working there, waiting for us to join Him. Love you friend…
Great post Dad!
Awesome Blog, Seth. Lord teach me to pray with an expectation of Your wonder, everyday. Thanks Seth! Frank III
wow. I am SO stinkin’ honored to have my blog mentioned in yours, Seth! I will definitely NEVER forget what happened in India. One of, if not the most, mind blowing ministry month of the Race! I loved being a part of that ministry. James’ heart is so clearly living for the Gospel.