Zinzendorf and Herrnhut by Red Moon Rising

This post is an excerpt from the inspiring Book: "Red Moon Rising"

The Moravians

The Moravian Church, or Unitas Fratrum, of which Zinzendorf was a bishop, had been founded hundreds of years before his great Herrnhut experiment. Prior to Zinzendorf, the Moravian Church had never, as far as we know, dreamed of praying round the clock; this was an idea flowing within monasticism. But the Moravian Church had a long and very remarkable history that inspired and shaped Zinzendorf and the renewal movement he catalysed.

The Moravian roots

The Moravian Church served the cause of Christ in two distinct eras: the Ancient Unity and the Renewed Moravian Church.[1] The roots of Christianity in Bohemia and Moravia (modern-day Czech Republic) could be found in the mission work of two Greek Ortho­dox bishops, Cyril and Methodius. They, like the Celtic believers, had much in common with other branches of Christendom, but didn't always feel comfortable with the policies of the current rulers in Rome. The inadvertent founder of the Unitas Fratrum was Jan Huss, the President of the University of Prague, who, years before Luther, railed against the sale of indulgences and the belief that you could buy forgiveness of sin. What's more, Huss insisted on preaching in the language of the people and not in Latin. As a result he soon had the ear of the masses and the heart of the people. He was eventually tricked into attending a church court, imprisoned and killed.

His death was a catalyst for revolt and helped spawn three different sets of supporters. One of these, the Moderates, believed in the 'heart religion' that had been practised by the primitive Christians of the New Testament. In March 1457 they formed the Brethren of the Law of Christ, a group that sought to influence the church of the day rather than split from it.

They were often persecuted, emphasizing that faith must find expression as a 'faith that works'. Like Huss, they passionately believed that the gospel should be made accessible to ordinary people and so they had the extraordinary distinction of being the first to translate the Bible into a native tongue, the Kralitz Bible. They went on to publish a further 50 books despite the attempts of the authorities to find and burn copies of their Bible.

The seventeenth century saw their number decimated by persecution and many fled Bohemia to Moravia, Silsia and modern-day Poland.

John Amos Comenius

This ancient Moravian bishop later became known as the Father of Modern Education and was hailed by Life magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the last millennium. He created a new educational philosophy called Pansophism, or universal knowledge, designed to bring about worldwide understanding and peace. Comenius advised teachers to use children's senses rather than memorization in instruction. To make learning inter­esting for children, he wrote The Gate of Tongues Unlocked (1631), a book for teaching Latin in the student's own language. He also wrote Orbis Sensualium Pictus (1658; The Visible World in Pictures, 1659) consisting of illustrations that labelled objects in both their Latin and vernacular names. It was one of the first illustrated books written especially for children.

Comenius was asked to assist in Swedish educational reforms, but his first passion was the church and this is where he devoted much of his time and genius. Faced with bitter persecution, he resolved to plant a 'hidden seed', and on his death bed, convinced that he was a failure, urged the Brethren to 'take care ... that the foundations of our unity may not be so entirely ruined as to make it impossible for our posterity to find them'.

The 'hidden seed' was to spring back into life in 1722 when a Moravian carpenter called Christian David encountered Nicholas Ludwig Von Zinzendorf, and asked if he could find them a place where they could practise the heart religion of the early church without persecution. Zinzendorf promised to give it some thought, and returned to his estate in June to find that Christian David had presumed he would say yes and had arrived already. They began building a new community on Zinzendorf's Berthelsdorf estate, which would become known as Herrnhut, a phrase that meant 'the watch of the Lord'.

Count Zinzendorf

Zinzendorf was to prove an able leader for the religious refugees who began to arrive on his land. Raised in a devout family, Count Zinzendorf seemed set aside for spiritual leadership from an early age. Church reformer and education pioneer Spener prayed with him at the age of four with respect to his spiritual destiny! At the age of 16 he graduated from Halle University, but not before informing the principal that in his time at the college he had started no fewer than seven different prayer groups and asking him to keep an eye on them.[2]

One of these prayer groups was named the Order of the Grain of Mustard Seed and contained a number of future leaders, including John Potter, who was to become an Archbishop of Canterbury. Together with his friends in the Mustard Seed prayer group Zinzendorf made a solemn pledge that would shape the destiny of the rest of his life. He vowed:

•  to be kind to all men;

•  to be true to Christ;

•  to send the gospel to the world.

Each member of the order wore a ring inscribed with the words 'No man liveth unto himself.

The count's youthful vows were to be a constant theme in the life of the Renewed Moravian Church. But first he had to try and bring some structure to the diverse group that was sprouting up on his land. The count was a voracious reader and was delighted to discover one of the foundational documents of the Moravians, a 'Covenant' document penned by the great Comenius himself. To this he added some local law and some of his own thought, and in May 1727 presented it to the warring factions on his estate.

The earliest historian of the eighteenth-century Moravians, Spangenberg, suggested that there were seven aspects of the 'Brotherly Agreement' that reflected the influence of Zinzendorf.[3]

•  The need for personal conversion.

•  A commitment to simplicity and integrity as marks of a true church.

•  A refusal to be hostile to other believers - even when you believed they were not understanding the Scripture as you might.

•  The belief that the sin of some believers was their fault, not that of the church. Zinzendorf believed in discipline but not in coer­cion.

•  A wariness of labels and names that might divide rather than unite.

•  An  active quest for spiritual  growth. There was to be no reliance on the blessings of the past. The people of God were to be intentional.

•  A readiness to lay aside one's personal desires and be ready to make sacrifices for the sake of others.

These seven aspects captured the heartbeat of a movement that sought to be active, simple, good, peace-making and sacrificial. Turn to 'Vision and Values' (p. 305) to see how we have sought to reflect the thinking of the Moravians and our own distinctive culture in the early twenty-first century.

Zinzendorf arranged for his new community to gather in small groups or 'bands'. In time, this developed into a more formal 'choir system' based on age, sex and marital status. These groups met daily for prayer or worship. Often they would gather simply to sing. Zinzendorf was a prolific hymn-writer so they never lacked new material!

Following a Holy Spirit visitation at an August 1727 commu­nion service, the warring factions in the group finally made public peace. A 24-hour prayer meeting was initiated two weeks later, which would last for 100 years. Twenty-four of the single men and 24 of the single women began an hourly intercession. Their prayers were informed by a weekly meeting where letters and messages from other Moravian Christians were read. This gave the praying believers specific people and places to pray for. In 1732, five years after their pentecostal experience, the group began to go out around Europe and the world to take Christ to the ends of the earth.

An emerging generation

Many of the people in this emerging generation of Moravians would later travel the world as missionaries. The Moravian community at Herrnhut spurred a movement that sponsored 3,000 missionaries in its first 200 years of existence. Many believe that it was one of the wellsprings of the modern mission movement.

The commitment to mission took them to the far corners of the earth. Two missionaries, it is said, sold themselves into slavery to reach the Caribbean community of St Thomas, and others trav­elled to Greenland. Greenland was to prove a watershed. Mora­vian historian James Hutton described what happened:

In the past they had discoursed [with non-Christians] about the Fall of Man and the Plan of Salvation; hence forward they gave the people the Passion Story in detail; and the Eskimos themselves soon noticed the difference. At the story of Adam and Eve they had merely wondered; at the story of the Crown of Thorns they wept; and, some­times, at the baptismal service, their tears dripped into the font.

When informed of the success of the Greenland Mission, Count Zinzendorf said, 'Henceforth, we shall preach nothing but the love of the slaughtered Lamb.' From that time forward Moravian evangelists were schooled in telling the Passion Story - the story of Christ's death on the cross for humankind - as succinctly and as simply as possible.[4]

The Moravians would eventually go to Surinam, Ceylon, South Africa, Cairo, Jerusalem and Baghdad. But they also touched the life of another man whose ministry would take their values and ideas to the far-flung corners of the world.

John Wesley

The impact on Wesley arose partly from their conduct in a terrify­ing storm. Wesley noted them as he returned from a dishearten­ing trip.

At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired, and would receive no pay, saying it was good for their proud hearts, and their loving Saviour had done more for them. And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness, which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sang on. I asked one of them afterwards, 'Were you not afraid?' He answered, 'I thank Cod, no.' I asked, 'But were not your women and children afraid?' He replied, mildly, 'No; our women and children are not afraid to die.'[5]

He subsequently visited their Fetter Lane church in London. It was here at an extended prayer meeting that he first felt the 'strange warming' of real relationship with Christ. One of Wesley's first acts was then to sail for Holland, where he was met by Zinzendorf and escorted back to the Berthelsdorf estate. Methodism, founded of course by Wesley, has helped shape the Christian witness on every continent, not least through its subsequent influence on Holiness, Pentecostal and Salvation Army groups.

The Moravian Church never grew particularly large, even though it was widespread, because of its commitment to Chris­tian unity. Many, perhaps the majority, of its converts were given away to other denominations. However, the influence of the Moravian tradition has been massive, as the brief history above makes clear. The Moravian Texts are today the world's best-selling daily devotional, used by 1.5 million people each day in 50 languages and dialects.

Source: Red Moon Rising

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[1] Material about the Ancient Unity is based on an article found at http://www.everydaycounselor.com/archives/sh/shistory.htm

[2] Material in this section draws from John R. Weinlick, Count Zinzendorf (The Moravian Church in America, 1984).

[3] Ibid, p. 82.

[4] James Hutton, The History of Moravian Mission (out of print).

[5] www.everydaycounsellor.com/archives/sh/wesley2.htm

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!

The Prophet declared it:

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

The wise King explained it:

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

The Psalmist sang it:

“… no one living is righteous before you. (Psalm 143:3)

The Apostle quoted it:

“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” (Romans 3:10)

Wretches, all of us – forever separated from the Love of God, all on our way to an eternity of darkness – isolation and separation – there is no rest for the wicked.

We are helpless: all our technology, our efforts, our wealth, the short lived buzz of power in this world – nothing but distractions – crutches we grasp hold of, to hinder our thoughts from dwelling on the hopelessness of our eternal destiny.

We are in desperate need of a Savior, a Deliverer, a Healer – someone that is not entangled in the web of sin, deception and destruction in which we find ourselves.

Grace is the Hand of God that reaches into our situation, touches us in our uttermost despair – and even when we do not recognize the help, when we reject it and even attack it – this Grace proves itself to be so Amazing, that the Hand stays extended and open. Hoping for a correct response!

It stays extended as we reach out with an open hand of Faith to take hold of the Grace extended to us. At first we are in dire straits – we need to consume all this Grace on ourselves to get healed, restored and delivered. God gives, patiently, expecting nothing in return.

Still we need more Grace as the Work of God goes deeper. The open Hand is still extended, “Come to me, my Child” is the Heart of the Father – longing for a restoration of an intimate Relationship. The closer we get to Him, the more intimate we become with Him, the more we need Grace to dwell in that place. Indeed, without the Grace, we could never approach Him! For He is Holy, Good and Pure!

As we dwell in that intimate Place, our eyes are opened to see Him, we begin to know Him and we experience more of that internal transformation back into His Image once again. We begin to come to a place of Unity with the Son and with the Father – we begin to see as he sees, think as He thinks and this Amazing Grace transforms us so much, that we become instruments of His Grace on this Earth. We start to enter the Rest God has prepared for us.

We become the carriers of His Message, the instruments through which He can manifest His presence on this Earth. We have become His Children, we have entered into His Kingdom, His Kingdom is established in our lives – it has become evident to the World that the Father loves us and that which is done by us, is not of ourselves, but it is the Father working through us. Faith has ignited our hearts, we have attained to the Mind of Christ, we are clothed in His Righteousness! This confirms Testimony of Christ (John 17:20 - 26)

That is why it is written in Philippians 2:1-11:

 ^1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

 ^5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

 ^9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

What an Amazing Grace! It is only this kind of Grace that enables us to live such a life. Amen!

What are terrible times?

When Jesus Christ came and walked the earth as a human 2000 years ago, the religious system of his day was defined through the law. Now the Law had been given by God to expose sin and to teach people to live a good way in relationship to God and to others. People had taken the law and added their own traditions to it. These traditions defined how the law was understood and provided a measurement as to how well the law was kept. This helped the people to create a system whereby they could manage their relationship with God – if they did certain things; this would be pleasing to God and visa versa. The aim of this religious system was to please God. The only problem was, that the adherence to these traditions was externally focused, that is, as long as people could keep the traditions, they were unaware of the true condition of their innermost being, their hearts. Everything could look fine on the outside, but inside could be filled with dead men’s bones and everything unclean (Matthew 23:27).   

The bible teaches us that the religious system of the last days will be different to this. Paul, someone who had grown up with the Law and traditions, was given insight into these last days said the following of them: “They will be terrible times” (2 Timothy 3). Paul continues to define the following characteristics of the religious system of the last days:

•           Members will be lovers of self
•          Members will love money
•          Members will love entertainment

It is of course the aim of this religious system to please God, so the love of God will be preached. The problem will be that the love of other things will have a higher value in the members life than the love of God. The members are not willing to “tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3) That is why Paul says that it will have the form of religion, but will deny its power – the power to transform a life – the power to change a heart! This will be a religious system that has found a replacement for the Gospel of the Kingdom, changing it into a gospel for this world. It will therefore be opposed to Christ and the Message of the offense of the Cross – that people should die to self.

Just as the religious system arose in the time of Christ to stop his message and mission, so will this religious system arise against Christ (Anti-Christ) in the same way, using similar methods. It will define itself as the “true” religion, a protector of the faith and a guiding light through its educated and dedicated priesthood and its aged traditions.    

This religious system will arise against Christ and His followers – and the bible teaches us that it will have the following spiritual characteristics:

•          It will be a resort and dwelling place of demons (Revelation 18:2)
•          It will enslave the souls of its members (Revelations 18:13)
•          It will be drunk on the blood of the true followers of Christ (Revelation 17:6, 18:24, 18:20)
•          It will be responsible for the death of the true Prophets and true Apostles (Revelation 17:6, 18:20, 18:24)

This religious system is a spiritual city called “Babylon”. Therefore the voice from the heavenly city shouts an urgent request to all who have been seduced by her “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4)

As we saw in the beginning, this religious system places a veneer of “righteousness” over its members – painting them “saved” but refuses to deal with the internal issues of the heart – that people truly be transformed back into the image of Christ. Therefore although an external coming out can be helpful, it is only the internal transformation of the heart that will bring true freedom.

Therefore be encouraged to open your heart to the Lordship of Christ (Revelation 3:20), renounce your life in the systems of this world that you may be translated into the Kingdom of the Glory of the Son. Let us strive towards the goal Paul defines, which is to be conformed to the death of Christ so that we may attain to His Resurrection Life in us (Philippians 3:10-11). Because, only as we renounce our lives and embrace His Life, can we become free from the power of deception and attain  to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Amen! 

A real way to celebrate the coming of Christ!

It is that time of year again, when we reflect on the coming of Christ to earth – made flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14).


There is a dimension of thought and strategy of the Wisdom of God to which the enemies of God (demons, powers of this age) have no access or understanding. This we understand from the context of the following scriptures:
• „no human mind has conceived the things that God has prepared“ ( 1 Corinthians 2:9 & Isaiah 64:4)
• “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:8)
• “And the Light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not.” (John 1:9)

But for those who have been born from above (John 3:3 & 3:7) these things have been revealed by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10) – which dwells in us.

Realizing this, we must of course ask ourselves, how can we operate in this dimension – and as such live a life of continual victory against these powers!


Paul explains his apostolic mandate to us in Colossians 1:25-29 and so gives us the answer to this question:

In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you] -- The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints), To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.
Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).  For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.

Paul says that God wanted the riches of the Glory to be brought to all nations that they may be able to take hold of, live out of and live according to this Glory. He says that he is totally committed to this Message (of Christ in us), because it is through this realization that men can become spiritually perfected. His commitment to this Message is enforced through the Power of God at work in him, testifying that the Lord also desires that men lay hold of this great revealed truth, which was previously hidden. 


Paul further stresses in Romans 5 that “we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in his life”

The Greek Word translated save here is sozo (G4982) meaning to save, i.e. deliver or protect and used elsewhere in the KJV: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

So bringing this together, we understand that it is the Life of Christ in us that heals us, delivers us, protects us and makes us spiritual complete.


After many years being involved in the commonly called “deliverance ministry” I realized that it is possible to cast demons out of people, but as long as their soul remained in darkness, they were not really free. It is the entrance of the living Word of God that needs to be laid hold of by the person through their faith. This then brings forth the Light of the Glory of Christ (in them). If this light has started to shine, then they can be guided and protected by this Light and are no longer living in darkness.


As we deny the old self life that tries to define its identity in this world and turn to Christ to receive and become a habitation for His Life, we continue to remove the veil that has blinded us to the true purposes of God in our generation. 


Let us commit in this time of reflection to use the situations that are provided us (e.g. through attacks by demon forces) to die to self (for we have been crucified with Christ - Galatians 2:20), so that we can allow the Life of Christ to be manifest in us and finally through us.
As we train our souls to submit in this way to the Lordship of Christ (in us) we attain to the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Entering into the Dimension of the Mind of Christ, we enter into the Rest God has prepared for us where we rest from our works and allow the Power of God to work through us. (Hebrews 4:10). Amen! ?

Let us again welcome and celebrate the coming of Christ into our lives, saying:

“Lord establish your Lordship in us, let your Kingdom come, let you Will be done – Come Lord Jesus, come and be revealed through my Body – which is now your Body.  I serve and worship you alone – I am yours and you are mine!” Amen

Sexual unity in marriage leads to Life

“Haven’t you read,” he [Jesus] replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

This is an interesting verse because Jesus clearly states that God’s original intention was the creation of male and female that these two should be joined together (in marriage) and form a spiritual and sexual unity.  This intention of the Creator is questioned today by those that demand that they as homosexuals have a right to get married too.  This right demanded does clearly not conform to the God-given and biblically approved understanding of sexual unity.

Although a homosexual marriage is not biblical, the right to choose to enter into a homosexual marriage is.  Someone may suppose that he does not believe in God or the bible as a written authority for his life. It is biblical that men have been given a free will to make this decision – even though it is just as clear that this decision against the Creator is not what the bible nor God wants nor recommends. A rejection of God and the bible then removes all biblical constraints in this area and they then have the “freedom” to make this personal choice.

One may attempt to justify his rejection of God the Creator and the bible by saying that he believes in the theory of evolution. It may be pointed out to him that there are no “forefather” mammals such as apes that are homosexual, no “great forefather” reptiles such as snakes that are homosexual, no “great great forefather” amphibians such as salamanders that are homosexual etc. etc. …. because the very idea is against Nature itself.

The reply of the homosexual might be, that he has evolved beyond heterosexuality to homosexuality – but I believe every honest student of evolution would then have to point out to him, that this “evolvement” is bound to last only one generation – because he has reached a dead end in the process. The hard truth is that there is no procreation between homosexuals – and in terms of “survival of the fittest” the chances of their survival stands at null. They have “evolved” into a type of species that cannot survive! They live only for themselves, because they can no longer reproduce!

From this discussion we can understand that in His infinite Wisdom and Love, the Creator has implemented sexual unity in marriage between male and female as the natural way that leads to Life! 

For this reason was the Son of God manifest!

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:13)

Although Andrew Murray was undoubtedly a very godly man, especially in the area of prayer and experiencing the deeper life, we still need to apply the Word of God to prove what he said.  His statement marked in red below is something that I wish to call attention to:

Quote from Chapter 1: Divine Healing by Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

We see, by the accounts given in the Gospels, that it was more difficult for the Jews at that time to believe in the pardon of their sins than in divine healing. Now it is just the contrary. The Christian Church has heard so much of the preaching of the forgiveness of sins that the thirsty soul easily receives this message of grace; but it is not the same with divine healing; that is rarely spoken of; the believers who have experienced it are not many. It is true that healing is not given in this day as in those times, to the multitudes whom Christ healed without any previous conversion. In order to receive it, it is necessary to begin by confession of sin and the purpose to live a holy life. This is without doubt the reason why people find more difficulty to believe in healing than in forgiveness; and this is also why those who receive healing receive at the same time new spiritual blessing, feel more closely united to the Lord Jesus, and learn to love and serve Him better. Unbelief may attempt to separate these two gifts, but they are always united in Christ. He is always the same Savior both of the soul and of the body, equally ready to grant pardon and healing.

 The redeemed may always cry: “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul.., who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases” (Ps. 103:3).

Does Scripture confirm that after the death and resurrection of the Lord the disciples fundamentally changed the way they had been healing and delivering people? Did they from then on require people to first confess their sin and to purpose to live a holy life before they could receive the Grace of God manifested as Healing and Deliverance?

This is a fundamentally relevant question for us today because the vast majority of teachers (in their books and sermons on mp3 and DVD) who teach healing and deliverance (in all their different forms) adhere to the above statement – this means it has such wide acceptance that very few would ever think about questioning it.

Firstly we have to establish that as Andrew Murray confirms above, Jesus did not require people to repent (turn from their sins and live a holy life style) before healing them.  This we can clearly see in many examples (Mark 5:1-20 – deliverance and mental healing; Luke 13:10-17 - Jesus expels a spirit of infirmity from the body of a woman)

In John 5:14 we read the following: Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."  From the context it is clear that the man at first did not even know who had healed him and only afterwards did Jesus confront him with the need to repent of his sin.

Now we should compare how the disciples healed and delivered after Jesus had risen and ascended to determine if there was any fundamental change in approach – to that which they had learnt from Jesus.

The first example is that of Peter and John at the gate beautiful in Acts 3:1-7. Clearly the beggar looked at Peter and John expecting to receive money.  Then in the Authority of the Name of Jesus Peter grabs the beggar by the hand, hauls him up up his feet – healed. No preaching of the Gospel and clearly no repentance by the beggar before he was healed! It was Peters faith in the Authority of the Name of Jesus that resulted in the healing – and this afterwards provided a platform for him to confront the religious leaders with their sin and demand that they repent!

The second example we see in Acts 14:8-10. This Gentile man had been a cripple since his birth. Paul was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and the cripple man was receiving the message with an open heart. Paul told him to stand up – which he did. There is no account that the cripple man had done any repentance, he had not come forward to repeat some prayer – it is recorded that he had faith to be healed – so obviously Paul was preaching exactly that – that through faith in the Authority in the Name of Jesus people can be healed and delivered. We are sure of this because it is written that faith comes through hearing the Word of Christ preached (Romans 10:14). Afterwards Paul confronts the Gentiles with the need for repentance (Acts 14:15)

Thirdly Paul is harsh with the Christians in Galatia (Galatians 3:1-5) and wanted to know who had bewitched them into thinking that they could receive the Spirit by their own works (e.g. commitment to a holy lifestyle). He also confirms that the Works of Holy Spirit were manifest among them only because they believed in the Victory of Christ over disease and demons through His crucifixion (paraphrased).   

I have discovered no biblical confirmation that Christians ministering healing and deliverance in the post resurrection and ascension period fundamentally changed the way that Jesus had healed and delivered. Rather I see a confirmation that it remained unchanged! If we take this teaching that repentance is required first to an extreme situation – in a situation where someone needs to be raised from the dead – we realize that it is totally insufficient. How is a dead person going to first repent and commit to live a holy life before they can be raised from the dead?

Paul describes far more serious consequences resulting from this kind of teaching in Romans 2:1-4. Here Paul warns against judging others and asks if we do not realize that it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance. Once we are of the opinion that people have to first repent before they can be healed – we stand in the very dangerous place of becoming judges declaring that they still have sin in their lives that needs to be repented of – maybe giving this as a reason for them not being healed by our prayer for them.  Actually it is most probably the unbelief of the one who ministered healing and/or deliverance that resulted in the person not being healed / delivered.

As Curry Blake has confirmed through the teachings of John G. Lake and his own healing and deliverance ministry, there is no requirement for someone to repent to receive the grace of God. The only requirement is that of Faith – and in the area of healing and deliverance – it is mostly the faith of the one ministering healing and deliverance that is required – as the example of raising someone from the dead confirms!

The example of how Jesus healed and delivered does not negate or diminish the importance of repentance or of stressing the importance of living a holy life in any way. It instead refocuses us on the total victory of Calvary over all sin, disease and demons and allows us to access the Grace of God through faith and not by our own works. Own works are here defined as confessing of sin, breaking of curses, searching for iniquity committed by our forefathers or anything having to do else other than focusing on Christ.

Once people have tasted that the Lord is gracious and have seen His power – they exercise the freedom of Will in choosing or rejecting Him. They need to understand that by rejecting Christ and returning to sin – something worse could happen to them. Not because this is the Will of God, but because the demons are going to build up a better stronghold next time round (Luke 11:24-26).

Let us not be the ones to hinder the flow of God's Grace to people – we are supposed to be channels of His Grace on the earth. The one ministering healing and deliverance has to live in obedience to the Lord by healing and delivering people from the power of satan unto the Kingdom of God (Acts 26:18). These ministers are not to keep backdoors for their unbelief open. Here are some examples what some of these backdoors can be:” It is not God’s will to heal you”; “You have hidden sin in your life”; “There is some undefined curse on your life”; “The iniquity of your forefathers is hindering your healing”; “You don’t have enough faith”; and so on an so forth! Jesus never used one of these backdoors, ever! Nor does the bible record that the first believers did either! We have the Mandate to pray for the sick to be healed - when we become the ones who decide who God will heal and who not, have we then "not discriminated among ourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:4)

Let us become convinced of what the Bible describes as the complete Victory of Christ over the devil, powers and principalities, all demon power, every sickness, disease and infirmity, every wound and all pain, death and hades! As we develop our understandings through the Word of Christ and refuse to live by the senses trapped in this world and as we reject the traditions of men – we by faith enter into the manifestation of the Kingdom and Will of the Father on this earth (Matthew 6:10)!

In this way we will bring Glory to the Father, destroy the works of the devil and see many enter into the Freedom offered by Christ. Hallelujah! For this reason was the Son of God manifest!


So finally, the Heart of Christ in this matter is revealed in the following:

* “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10) 

* "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'" (Mark 2:17) 

* “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Matthew 9:13) 

Keep your focus to do what Jesus commanded!

Luke 8:23-25
But as they (the disciples) sailed he (Jesus) fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind (whirlwind) on the lake; and the boat was filling with water, and they were in great danger.
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we are perishing! Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging waves: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him.

The disciples find themselves in the midst of a storm, which appears to threaten their lives. They shout to the Lord knowing “that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved”. Bill Johnson remarks that he was always taught that it was an expression of Faith to call upon the Lord when we are in danger. However in contradiction to this: Jesus wakes up, rebukes the storm and then He rebukes His disciples for their lack of faith. Jesus was obviously expecting something very different from His disciples.

He was obviously not expecting that they quietly sit in the boat and pray in their hearts to Him to save them either!
Jesus had earlier told His disciples, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” (Luke 6:40). So I believe that the expression of Faith that Jesus expected from His disciples was that they should do what He had done, that is, command in the Authority of His Name.

Let us now investigate how we can relate this passage to the current disasters that are shaking the world!

Acts 1:6-8 (New International Version)
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

As we see the increasing number and intensity of apocalyptic images of natural disasters coming upon the earth, we are tempted by feelings of hopelessness – questioning ourselves and not understanding why God is allowing all these things. We read the various confusing interpretations of the book of Revelations and hear so many saying that now is the End of Time!

The early disciples also battled with these thoughts, albeit for different reasons. The Old Testament prophets had spoken of a glorious future for Israel but since returning from the captivity in Babylon things did not appear so great. This caused some of the Jewish people to seek for answers in hidden symbols and numbers that were revealing the Masters Plan. Out of this search for answers the so called early Jewish apocalyptic literature developed.

The influence of the Greek thinking on the early Jewish apocalyptic literature caused people to take a very passive position on current events, because they developed a philosophy that they "knew" the Master's Plan. God would come and restore the Kingdom and there was nothing that anyone could do to change that – one just had to “survive” and remain faithful until that glorious Day!

In the Book of Revelation Jesus the Messiah reveals Himself as the One who is coming and is busy establishing His Kingdom on the Earth. He has clearly stated that we will not know the time of His coming. Despite this so many continue to try and press this book into a specific time schedule.

We need to break the Greek Philosophical View of the End Times (amongst other things by not debating about which Interpretation we subscribe to) over our lives and become active Ambassadors of God, by allowing Him to manifest His Kingdom in and through us. Let the People taste and see that the Lord is Good (through the Fruit of our lives).

Jesus requires and expects us to demonstrate Faith in these times – how do we do that? By doing the things that He would do if he were on the earth today – by healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead and teaching people how to enter and live in the reality of the Kingdom of God. (Actually He is on the Earth – living in His disciples)

This is so different from getting people to come forward in a meeting and repeat some small prayer!
It is also very different from getting people to a meeting where some “anointed one” can perform some demonstration of Power to the delight and amusement of the crowd – where the crowd returns home unaffected and unchanged in their hearts to wait for the next great entertainer!
It is also different to warming a church pew and hearing some orator encourage and motivate people that they too can be successful in this world – occasionally throwing in enough bible passages to convince that this is all happening “in the name of the Lord”!

Jesus is very clear in His command to His disciples:
He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)

My paraphrase of the command of Jesus:

Get baptised in the Holy Spirit and then be led by the Spirit to be the witnesses of all I have done – by doing the same things – and teaching people to obey all I have commanded you. Bring them into the Kingdom of God by demonstrating that my Kingdom has come upon the earth – my rule of Authority and Power is already established on the earth – by casting out demons and healing the sick. Oh and by the way, you have to renounce your life in this world if you desire to enter into the fullness of my Kingdom on this earth – you have to die to self to live for me – because it will actually be me living in and through you!

I want all men, woman and children to be delivered out of darkness – now go forth in the Authority of my Name!

... AND DO WHAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU!