David Hathaway

In Acts 15:8 we read: “God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.” This was God's confirmation that the Gentiles could receive salvation without first coming under the requirements of the Jewish law. The gift of the Holy Spirit was the evidence that God had accepted them. I hope you remember that. Peter goes on to say in verse 9: “He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith.” What a powerful statement. God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile. Salvation is not based on nationality, tradition, or keeping religious laws. It is received by faith alone. That is the very foundation of the Christian faith. Everything centres on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. The believers in the Old Testament were saved by looking forward in faith to the coming Messiah. Today, we are saved by looking back in faith to the finished work of Christ. The object of our faith is the same Saviour; only the direction in which we look has changed.

Jesus heals by miracles! If you want an answer to prayer, that answer is found in the Bible. I want to start by reading a passage from Mark 2, the healing of the paralytic man. These four men were so desperate, they knew only Jesus could heal their friend; no hospital could cure him, no medicine could relieve the symptoms. This man needed a miracle! The crowd was full of expectation: they knew Jesus could heal the sick, the paralysed man's friends knew He could heal the sick. What was Jesus going to do? To prove that He has power on earth to forgive sins, Jesus turned to the paralysed man and said, "Stand up, take up your mat, and go home." Immediately the paralysed man arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God! Healing is an integral part of the atonement. It has been bought for us, together with our salvation, through Christ's suffering and death. We need to apply the same level of faith to our deliverance from sickness as we do to our deliverance from sin. 'I behold Your glory' used by kind permission of Vinesong For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

So much of the Church has lost sight of what it was like in the days of the Acts of the Apostles. The early Church grew because God confirmed the preaching of His Word with miracles, signs, and wonders. The Gospel was never just words – it was accompanied by the power of God. That has been one of the most remarkable aspects of my own ministry. It is not simply the message that I preach, but the extraordinary miracles that have followed as the Gospel has been proclaimed with boldness. Jesus is still the Healer. Very often, when people ask me to lay hands on them, I reply, “No, I want you to obey the Scriptures.” Jesus said, “These signs will accompany those who believe... they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” I encourage people to place their own hands on the area of sickness while I pray with them. Then the miracles happen – not because of me, but because they are looking to Jesus, the One who heals. An important part of my ministry is simply to testify to the miracles God performs wherever I go. They are truly extraordinary. At the end of Acts 5:16 we read these remarkable words: “All of them were healed.” What a challenge that is to the Church today. God's power has not diminished. His ability to heal has not weakened. Sadly, it is often our expectation and our faith that have diminished – not His power.

Here were people praying earnestly, yet when the answer was standing at the door, they could hardly believe it! Sometimes I think that's a danger in the Church today. Do we really expect God to answer our prayers? I wonder how many Christians would be genuinely shocked if God answered exactly what they had been asking for. Too often, there is little real expectation that He will actually do it. For many people, prayer becomes little more than wishful thinking. I can't stand that kind of praying. When I pray, I pray with conviction and determination. I know what I'm asking God to do, and I pray believing that He hears and answers. The two disciples continued on their journey because they had been sent by the Holy Spirit. That is an important principle: it is the Lord who sends us. I have always been deeply conscious of this throughout my ministry. When I look back over the places God has taken me, there is no doubt in my mind that every destination and every timing was directed by Him. It was so precise that only God could have arranged it. The chapter concludes by saying, “The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” What a wonderful example for us today. We, too, should live lives that are filled with joy and continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

I have always believed the prophecies in the Bible, Joel 2, God's Promise of the former and latter rain. I believed that the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit was on that first Pentecost, but that we can and should experience the second Pentecost now. Although I had received my personal Baptism by the Holy Spirit aged 14, I wanted something greater, the promise of Joel 2.  Our God is about to do great things! His power is on the increase. Biblically God's power cannot become smaller! At a time of national calamity, Joel 2.21&23 says, ‘Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is about to do great things – in YOUR nation! ... Be glad, rejoice in your God, because He gave you the former rain moderately, and He will give you the latter rain!' I know Israel well: the former (first) rain is when they plant the seed, the last rain is just before the harvest and it is greater than the first – that's why I believe we are living in a new Day of Pentecost (harvest) now! When the church was born on the Day of Pentecost, it was born in fire! And before Jesus comes back, we're going to have another greater baptism in fire!  Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/7jtzWi9YVew  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Jesus came into the world to save the lost. He came to die for sinners. He did not come for one group of people or another. He did not come only for the Jews or only for the Gentiles. He came for all people, so that everyone might have the opportunity to be saved. And today, our calling is to take that message of salvation to everyone. Jesus is the Son of God, who came into the world to die for sinners – whatever their nationality, whatever their background, whatever their religion or creed. That is why I have travelled so widely, preaching the Gospel, because I want to reach everyone with the good news of Christ. In Acts 10:47, after the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit, Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptising these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” The message is clear: whether Jew or Gentile, everyone needs the Holy Spirit, and everyone who believes should be baptised in water. What does water baptism mean? Paul explains it in Romans. When we are baptised, it symbolises our identification with Christ in His death. Water baptism is a picture of death and resurrection. As you go down into the water, it is as though you are buried with Christ. As you come up out of the water, you rise to new life as a new creation. Just as Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, so water baptism declares that your old life has died and that you now live a new life in Him.

If you are believing for healing, for yourself or others, healing is part of the atonement of Christ. Matthew 8.16-17 says that Jesus healed all that were sick in order that the words of the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses' (Isaiah 53.4). I KNOW God works miracles; when you pray in faith, God will work the miracle. And even if you don't experience the full healing in this life, Jesus has promised that a day is coming when He will wipe every tear from our eyes, there will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away, (Revelation 21.4). Watch the YouTube version: For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In Acts 10:41, we read, “He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses chosen before by God, even by us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.” These words remind us that God chose specific people to be witnesses of the risen Christ. I believe that God has also chosen you and me to be His witnesses today. Just as the early disciples were called to testify of the greatness of God, we too have been chosen to declare what we have seen and experienced of His transforming power. As a believer, you stand alongside Peter, Paul, and all the others in the early Church. You are a witness to the power of God to change lives. You have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, shed for you on the cross. You have experienced the miracle of salvation and have a testimony of what Jesus has done in your life. Then, in Acts 11, Peter recalls the words of the Lord: “John indeed baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” He continues, “If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” These verses make it clear that God Himself was leading Peter. In verse 12, Peter says, “The Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing.” Peter was not acting according to human reasoning or personal preference; he was responding to the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is the same calling for every believer today: to listen to the Spirit, obey His leading, and become faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Acts 9 begins with one of the greatest miracles in Scripture, the conversion of Saul, and then turns to Peter, through whom God performs two extraordinary miracles: the healing of a paralysed man and the raising of a woman from the dead. What a powerful Gospel we have! It is the Gospel that not only saves souls but also demonstrates the living power of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live and minister as the early disciples did. Their example is not simply part of history; it is a pattern for how believers should live today: walking in obedience to Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and expecting God to work through them for His glory. One of the most important aspects of my ministry is that I not only preach the Gospel, but I also pray for the sick in the name of Jesus and have seen Him perform miracles. I cannot heal anyone, Jesus alone is the Healer. I am simply called to obey Him, to pray in faith, and to leave the results in His hands. If you are a believer, you too are called to be a witness, just as Peter, John, and the other disciples were. As Acts 10:39 reminds us, we are witnesses to what Jesus has done. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God still transforms lives today, and He invites every believer to testify to His saving grace and His mighty power.

Do you want an answer to prayer? The answer is in your Bible.  God had to send Jesus into this world to understand how we live: to understand us, to know our problems. He lived amongst us. Jesus worked as a carpenter for 18 years; He knows what it is like to face financial pressures, the struggle to buy food. Hebrews says Jesus is able to sympathise with our weaknesses, He was tempted as we are, yet He was without sin, this is why we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, to find help in our time of need. Our only hope for the future, our only hope for the nations is Jesus. He is the only one who can solve all things.  'Hope for the world' used by kind permission of Vinesong. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk

In Acts 9, Peter encountered a man named Aeneas who had been paralysed for eight years. Recognising his need, Peter did not anoint him with oil or lay hands on him. Instead, he simply declared, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Immediately, Aeneas got up. There was no gradual recovery, no delay; the healing was instantaneous. The miracle demonstrated the power and authority of Jesus Christ working through His servant. Later in the same chapter, we read of another remarkable miracle. A faithful believer named Tabitha (also called Dorcas) had died. Peter sent all the mourners out of the room, then knelt down and prayed. Only after praying did he turn to the body and say, “Tabitha, arise.” At once she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. These miracles remind us that the power displayed was not Peter's own. He acted in complete dependence on the Lord, speaking and acting in faith as the Holy Spirit directed him. The same Jesus who healed the sick and raised the dead during His earthly ministry continued His work through the apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 9, when the Lord speaks to Saul - who would later become Paul - we see a clear example of direct guidance from God. Saul asks, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” The Lord answers, “Get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” He was given only the next step. The fuller instructions came only after he obeyed. That has certainly been my experience. There have been many times when the Lord has told me to go somewhere or do something, without revealing the whole plan. Only after I had obeyed did He make the next step clear. Looking back over my life, I can see how the Lord has ordered my steps. He has given me specific instructions and sent me to particular places. The evidence lies in what followed. My first overland journey to Jerusalem opened my eyes to the suffering of the underground Church behind the Iron Curtain. From that point onwards, at every stage of my life, I was acting under the Lord's direction. Time and again, God did exactly what He had promised. I remember preaching in a city in Russia where the pastor told me that my visit was the answer to prayers that had been offered many years before. Believers who had been imprisoned, tortured, and even put to death in the labour camps had prayed that one day someone would come and share the Gospel with their persecutors. After the collapse of communism, I arrived there, unaware that I was walking into the fulfilment of prayers prayed by faithful Christians who had long since gone to be with the Lord.

In this episode, David shares powerful testimonies of healing from his ministry in Dewsbury, Kiev, and across the former Soviet Union. Drawing from James 5 and the words of Jesus, he explores the biblical call to preach the gospel, pray for the sick, and expect God to work miracles. With personal stories of blind eyes opened, cripples walking, and his own battle with throat cancer, this message is a stirring reminder of the power of faith-filled prayer. 'When I moved to Harrogate things changed and I saw my first powerful miracle of healing. After we had prayed, I continued to visit Mr Corker, and soon, I began to see something which I came to realise was the cancer coming away from his body. His catheter tube kept getting blocked so that, even in front of me, he would be trying to clear it. Not long after this, the doctors confirmed something unusual was going on and sent him back into hospital, hopefully even to restore his body functions and remove the two bags. But he was so difficult and cantankerous in the hospital, that they threw him out without any operation. But God had miraculously healed his body – he pulled his tubes out himself at home – and soon he was back in church. The cancer never returned.' For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway http://eurovision.org.uk Watch the video on YouTube https://youtu.be/Yr4kwA34izg 

What happened on the Day of Pentecost was not a one-time event. Again and again, throughout the later chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, we read of people receiving the Holy Spirit. Each time, there was a remarkable transformation. They were filled with a new dynamic power, and it became unmistakably clear that the Holy Spirit had changed their lives. When I received the Holy Spirit, He completely transformed me. That work has not diminished over the years; rather, my hunger for His presence has only grown stronger. Today, I need the Holy Spirit even more than I did when I first received Him at the age of fourteen. We must never be afraid to suffer for Christ's sake. For me, it is both an honour and a privilege. When I was imprisoned for smuggling Bibles, I reflected on the fact that the Father allowed His own Son, Jesus Christ, to be arrested, imprisoned, mocked, beaten, and tortured. Suffering for His name should not surprise us. In the book of Acts, the Lord said to Ananias concerning Paul, "I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." From the very beginning, following Christ has meant not only sharing in His life and power, but also being willing to share in His sufferings.

'Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective,' (James 5.13-16, NIVUK). In 1948 Elim held a series of crusades in London. I attended and took part in some of the meetings and felt led to join one of these new churches. It was near Camberwell Green in South London; I knew and became friendly with the young pastor. It was my idea that Ken and I should leave the church where we had grown up and join this church. I thought it would give me useful experience for my own coming ministry. We were very active 17- year-olds; I couldn't do any preaching of course, but we worked with the young people, and I took the job of being door keeper on Sundays, greeting the people and talking with them. One man who attended regularly used to ask me a lot of questions about healing which, with my lack of experience, I found hard to answer. My only contact with this man was in church and I never knew his name. After a while, he stopped coming. Then I found out he'd been in hospital and had died quite suddenly. I didn't know, I believe probably it was prostate cancer. I was quite sad, although I only knew him from talking at the door of the church. I couldn't get him out of my mind. I realised that all his questions had been a desire for a miracle of healing – and I could give him no answers. For the first time in my life, I was confronted with the real need for physical healing from the Lord. It was this that would result in my searching for God's Power in miracles of healing. To watch the video version: https://youtu.be/1IGZIOev8SM  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

One truth I can never escape is this: the miracles recorded in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles were the evidence that confirmed the truth of the message. Acts 8:6 tells us what happened: "The people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." They didn't just hear Philip's words – they saw the power of God at work. The message and the miracles went together. Do you see the importance of the ministry of healing? Both Philip and Simon were attracting crowds, but there was a crucial difference. Simon was preaching himself, while Philip was preaching Christ. Simon's sorceries were a counterfeit demonstration, designed to impress people with his own power. Philip, however, ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit. The miracles of healing – the lame walking, the sick restored, and lives transformed – were God's confirmation of the Gospel he preached. Those miracles were not the message itself, but they were the evidence that the message was true. They authenticated Philip's ministry and pointed people, not to the preacher, but to Jesus Christ. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In the whole of Acts chapter 7, Stephen delivers one of the most remarkable biblical messages in Scripture. He takes his listeners through Israel's history, revealing from the Scriptures who Jesus truly is. Then, in verse 55, we read: "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." In the next verse he declares, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." Notice something extraordinary. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is normally described as seated at the right hand of God. But here, He is standing. The scene is so significant, so glorious, that the Lord Himself is standing to receive His faithful witness. Can you imagine it? The excitement in heaven is so great that even Jesus rises from His seat. And this brings us back to an important truth. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts chapter 2 came upon the 120 believers, but there is absolutely no question that God's intention was never to limit His Spirit to that small group. The same Holy Spirit was given for all believers, empowering ordinary men and women to live as bold witnesses for Christ. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

You're Twice God's! Here's Why... God made you. You were lost in sin. God searched everywhere for you. Then He sent His Son Jesus and He found you. Although you were lost in sin, He paid a high price to buy you back. That is why the Bible says there is so much joy in Heaven over every sinner who repents! Jesus says, "You are two times mine!"  'The Father's Love' & 'Jesus Your Love Has Lifted Me' used by kind permission of Vinesong.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts chapter 2 came upon the 120 believers, but there is no question that God's purpose was for the Holy Spirit to come upon all who believe. As Christians, we need a personal testimony and a powerful witness – that is the strength of our preaching. In many churches today, we have deacons who are not ordained to preach but are appointed to serve and support the ministry. Yet one detail in Acts has always stood out to me: although these men were not leading the spiritual ministry, they were still required to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Stephen was chosen as one of these deacons, described as a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit." But he did far more than administrative work. By Acts 6:8 we read that, "full of faith and power," he performed great wonders and miracles among the people. It is clear that these deacons were not merely serving practical needs. They were ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit - praying for the sick, seeing miracles, and demonstrating the same supernatural power that was at work through the apostles. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk   

The Holy Spirit is essential for us to fulfil the work of God. We cannot do it in our own strength. I could not do what I do without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows the truth, and He inspires, guides, and motivates us. God does not call us to do something without knowing our limitations. He knows what we are capable of and what we are not. And when He calls us to something, it is because either He has already given us the ability, or He will provide the strength we need to accomplish it. Stephen is a powerful example of this. He was chosen as one of the deacons, a man who was "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." Yet his ministry was far more than practical administration. Acts 6:8 tells us that, "full of faith and power, he did great wonders and miracles among the people." The Holy Spirit enabled him to do what he could never have done in his own strength. The Scriptures are clear that God honoured Jesus because of His complete obedience – even obedience unto death. Jesus submitted fully to the will of His Father, and because of that obedience, God exalted Him. The same principle applies to us. When we obey God, trust Him, and follow His calling, He will honour us and give us the grace and strength to accomplish His purposes. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In Matt 10.1 Jesus calls the Twelve and sends them out, giving THEM the POWER to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sickness and disease.  People don't understand what distinguishes Christianity from any other religion – it's GOD'S POWER given to men! The whole message of the Gospel, the whole message of the New Testament is POWER! It's not prophecy, that's the message of the Old Testament. The message of the New Testament is POWER. God's Power. Jesus gave the Twelve Power. Now, they hadn't yet received the Holy Spirit, but they had received Power. It traces back to John the Baptist, who prophesied of Jesus, that the One who is coming will have more Power than me. We see from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus has POWER from God to forgive sin and to heal the sick. In Matt 10.1 He commissions His disciples – in preparation for when He's gone. The final message of Jesus to the disciples, after the crucifixion, after the resurrection, when His ministry is finished, is this in Acts 1.8, “You will receive POWER, after the Holy Spirit is come on you and you will be My witnesses to the ends of the earth…” When John was in prison, Jesus took over. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, the disciples took over. John the Baptist said, Jesus will be greater than I; Jesus said, the same works that I do, you will do and greater. Where is that greater power today? I grew up in the early days of the Pentecostal revival in Britain. All my life I've sensed that there's more POWER than even the great ministers I grew up with had. I received the Holy Spirit when I was still 14, I've seen great miracles in my ministry since I was 20, but I've never been satisfied. Aged 94 I still want MORE. I want to live like Jesus intended us to live. How about you? To watch the YouTube version https://youtu.be/FCOHmh5KDDk  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

God's power does not diminish or grow weaker. Yet, sadly, the attitude of much of the Church is that it does. Many people say, “You can't expect the same miracles to happen today as happened in the days of the Bible. Things were different then.” But no – God has not changed. His power has not decreased. In fact, we are living in the age of the Holy Spirit, and God's power available to us today is greater than ever. At the end of Acts 5:16, we find this remarkable statement: “They were all healed.” This is one of those rare moments in Scripture where we see every person receiving healing. We see this in the ministry of Jesus, although even in His own hometown of Nazareth, unbelief prevented many from receiving what God wanted to do. But here, the fear of God was upon the people because of the undeniable demonstration of His power, and they all received healing. Then Peter declares: “We are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him.” I love this because it reminds us of a fundamental truth: the Holy Spirit is essential for us to fulfil the work of God. We cannot do it in our own strength. I could not do what I do without the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us, enables us, and equips us to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and to demonstrate the reality of God's Kingdom. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Jesus' first message is “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” – repentance and the Kingdom! Repent – because the Kingdom of God is coming! Jesus calls the first of His disciples – now miracles yet – and they follow Him. And He goes all about Galilee, teaching, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people! 4:23!  He's preaching in a country overrun by foreign empires for hundreds of years – they're used to being ruled by the Greeks, they're used to being ruled by the Romans – but Jesus is preaching a totally different kind of kingdom! Seeing the multitudes, Jesus goes up the mountain and begins to teach them, Chs 5,6 &7. He's on that mountain a long time! It's not until Ch 8 that He comes down – still followed by great multitudes, and from here on, Matthew records a whole series of miracles, including the miracle of the sinking ship in 8:23 where Jesus calms the storm and the disciples marvel, “What kind of a man is this that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” John the Baptist saw many come for repentance but never saw this kind of miracle – this is what he prophesied when he said, after him there will come someone more powerful than him! And here He is! Jesus! We now come to Matt 9:1ff, where they bring a man to Jesus, paralysed and lying on a bed. You know the story: Jesus says to the sick man, “Your sins are forgiven you.” John the Baptist never could say that, because, as the religious leaders knew, no man can forgive sin, only God. So now, to prove that He, the Son of man, has POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SIN – Jesus healed the man, saying, “Get up and go home!” The paralysed man did exactly that, picked up his bed and went – and the crowds that saw it marvelled and glorified God that He had given such POWER unto men!!! To watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/3EdSiKNqOyg  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

What happened on the Day of Pentecost can and should happen today. It was not a one-time event that ended with the first disciples; rather, it was the beginning of the Spirit-empowered life of the Church throughout this age. The evidence, demonstration, and confirmation of who Jesus is continues through the work of the Holy Spirit in His people. Although we were not physically present to witness the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, we too are called to be His witnesses. We have the testimony of the apostles, who declared that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and rose again for the forgiveness of sins. And today, we have the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to carry that same witness to the world. If you have experienced your own personal Pentecost, that is not the end – it is only the beginning. The fire and power of the Holy Spirit are meant to continue increasing in our lives as we become more effective witnesses for Christ. The Book of Acts is the only book of the Bible that appears unfinished because the story of the Spirit-empowered Church is still being written. We are called to live in that same reality today – to see the power of God demonstrated, to witness His works among us, and to continue the ministry that began in the early Church. Everything we read about in Acts should be reflected in the Church today: a people filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaiming Jesus, walking in His power, and demonstrating the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was saying, "When the Holy Spirit comes, everything will change. You who have no power in yourselves will be transformed by the same Holy Spirit who empowered Me, and you will continue the works that I have begun." In Acts 2:3-4, we read that tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of the 120 believers. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. The miracle was not simply that they spoke in other languages. They were declaring the mighty works of God, bearing witness to His power and greatness through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked the birth of the Church's Spirit-empowered ministry. It was God's visible demonstration of His power at work in His people – a ministry that continues throughout this age until Christ returns.

If you want healing in your body, first you must receive healing in your soul. Jesus says to you today, "Child of mine, your sin is forgiven, be made whole, go in peace", then the healing will flow into your heart and body.  Let this be your heart's prayer: 'Oh God, be a Father to me. Take away my pain. Your precious blood has cleansed me, healing my body, filling my soul, making me whole, touching my spirit, healing my mind. Come and touch my spirit, help me to see You again. Healing my heart, restoring my dreams, lifting me up to face life again. Thank You Jesus.' 'Holy Spirit Move Me Now' used by kind permission of Vinesong. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk

Jesus was saying, "When the Holy Spirit comes, everything will change. You who have no power in yourselves will be transformed by the same Holy Spirit who empowered Me, and you will continue the work I began." Then, in Acts 1:10-11, while the disciples were watching as Jesus ascended into heaven, two men stood beside them and said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven." These words give us a clear picture of Christ's return. Just as the disciples saw Him ascend into heaven, those who are alive when He returns will see Him come again in the same visible and glorious way. Until that day, the Church has a mission: to continue the work of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, faithfully witnessing to Him until He comes again.

When Jesus was born, He laid aside the privileges of heaven and chose to live as a man on earth. It was not until after His baptism in the Jordan River, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, that He was anointed and empowered for His earthly ministry. In Acts 1, Jesus spoke to a group of ordinary, imperfect men – including Peter, who had denied Him only weeks before. Yet Jesus made them an extraordinary promise: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." In other words, the Holy Spirit would transform their lives and empower them to fulfil the ministry He was entrusting to them. After He had spoken these words, while they watched, Jesus was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. These were among His final instructions to His disciples. He told them to wait in Jerusalem because everything would change when the Holy Spirit came. They would no longer rely on their own strength or abilities. Instead, they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to become His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

I'm seeing the Bible quite differently these days – it's coming into a new perspective and I'm seeing things even at my age that I've never seen before. I' seeing something in Matthew, that is so significant for the Church today. It's challenging me, and I hope it challenges you, to examine exactly what we actually believe – and do! In Matt 3:11 we find John the Baptist preaching repentance in the wilderness. It's the beginning of his ministry. He says to the crowds, 3:11, “I baptise you with water for repentance, but He that is coming after me is more powerful than I… He will baptise you with the Holy Ghost and Fire!” Then in Matt 3:13ff, Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptised in the Jordan by John. As He comes up out of the water, the Holy Spirit comes down on Him and a Voice from Heaven announces, “This is My Beloved Son.”  But Jesus does not commence His ministry straightaway; it struck me that, at this point, John is still the minister, the evangelist, not Jesus, and Jesus is led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matt 4:1.  But then, by 4:12, Jesus hears that John has been put in prison, his ministry is ended, his work done. Jesus recognises this, leaves Nazareth where He grew up and moves to Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee, so that prophecy would be fulfilled that ‘the people by the sea that were in darkness have seen a great light'. And immediately, 4:17, Jesus starts His ministry and begins to preach – in POWER. To watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/1qsrqV9MP5k For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

One of the most important things Jesus ever said was: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In His final words to the disciples, Jesus placed the emphasis on them becoming God's witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Five years ago, during one of my prayer walks, I was seeking God and asked the Holy Spirit, "You know Jesus better than any of us. What was the key to the power that Jesus had?" As I prayed, the Holy Spirit brought Scripture to life in a fresh way. It became clear to me that when Jesus was born, He willingly laid aside the glory, power, and privileges of heaven to live as a man on earth. It was not until after His baptism in the Jordan River, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, that He was publicly anointed and empowered for His earthly ministry. From that moment, His ministry was marked by the power of the Holy Spirit. He preached with authority, healed the sick, cast out demons, performed miracles, and revealed the Kingdom of God wherever He went.

The early Church grew up in the firm expectation of the near return of Christ. The fact that He's delayed for 2000 years doesn't diminish the power of the promise nor the power of the message that Jesus gave, “Go preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely you have received, freely give.” Jesus said, “Give! You don't have to provide the money, or take extra coats, shoes or anything… What I tell you in darkness, speak in light… And don't fear those who can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt 10:7ff,26ff. Jesus is offering a Gospel that changes men. I'll never forget the simplicity of this Gospel when I was invited to preach in a high-security prison in Siberia in 1994. They allowed 30 minutes for worship, then I was to speak. The commanding officer told me, “200 of these men are serial murderers, 400 are serious sex offenders, the other 800 men are criminals of every kind. I beat them, I shoot them. What can your God do to change these men?” He could only offer brutality, no change. But Jesus brings life! I called on the Lord to tell me what to say. I preached love and forgiveness, a Gospel of change and power. The world today talks about violence, brutality, punishment. But I called on those men to repent. When I had finished, all 1,400 men were on their knees, and the guards with them too – crying out for God's forgiveness! The miracle was so great, 140 of those men, when they were released, became pastors and evangelists, and 30 years later, they're still working, still preaching Christ in the prisons in the Far East of Russia! Christian, preach the Gospel. God offers a message of hope, of love, of power to forgive sin, power to heal the sick. You see, God gives us Power! Jesus today has more Power on earth, more Authority, than any ruler or emperor! His Power is not to coerce and control, not to punish and destroy, but to bring healing and salvation of both body and soul. Reach out to Jesus! The Power is in His Gospel! Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/cvkPaIfTqqM  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

The power of our faith is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do not speak enough about the resurrection. At Communion we remember His death and celebrate His resurrection. At Easter we proclaim His victory over the grave. But the heart of the Gospel is this: God raised Jesus from the dead! Everything we believe, everything we preach, and everything we hope for rests upon that glorious truth. So how should we respond to such a great salvation? We cannot hold anything back from the Lord. We cannot deceive Him or offer Him only part of our lives. In Christian service, we are not forced to surrender ourselves to God. But when we choose to follow Him, our response should be free, willing, and wholehearted, withholding nothing. The Lord called me when I was just fifteen years old. He did not first call me to be an evangelist or a pastor; He called me to give Him everything. That has been the pattern of my life. I have sought to hold nothing back from the Lord, but to pour out my life before Him in loving obedience. If you make a promise to God, keep it. As believers, we trust the Lord to keep every promise He has made to us. In the same way, we should be faithful in keeping the promises we make to Him. A life fully surrendered is the only fitting response to a risen Saviour who gave everything for us.

In the Church, we need to return to the power of personal testimony. There is too much religious preaching and not enough declaring what the Lord has done in our own lives. People need to hear the evidence of God's transforming power. In my own ministry, I make it a priority to share testimonies of all that God has done. In my own life, I have twice been healed of cancer, and yet here I am in my nineties with more energy than many people much younger than me. My life is a living testimony to God's power and faithfulness. It is this kind of practical, personal witness that the world needs to hear. In Acts 4 we read, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” That verse presents a powerful challenge to us in ministry today. As I reflect on it, I see three vital keys: 1, The power of the evidence – God confirmed the message through miracles; 2, The Gospel was preached in the Name of Jesus, not through religion or religious ceremony; 3, Above all, the power of their witness flowed from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The risen Lord was the source of everything they proclaimed and everything they experienced. That same risen Christ is alive today, and He still calls His Church to be witnesses who proclaim His name with boldness and demonstrate His power.

I want you to know who God really is, how great He is! When I was in my prison cell, I got to a point when I couldn't pray, I tried to praise Him, but my teeth were clenched because of my suffering and pain. Suddenly my heart opened and a miracle happened: it was as if Heaven had opened, the cell was filled with a brilliant light, all the angels of Heaven seemed to crowd into that cell, and I began to praise and worship the Lord. I got to my feet and began to run around that cell singing, "Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, how great Thou art!" The glory of God filled my heart, changing me, the sadness and pain were gone! I was locked in a prison cell, yet I was in the presence of God, experiencing something greater than I had ever known before. 'Worship the Lord' and 'Thank You Lord' used by kind permission of Vinesong. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In Acts 4, the religious leaders were astonished by two things: first, the miracle that had taken place; and second, the boldness of Peter and John. It is time for us to stand with that same boldness and declare the truth we know. The leaders recognised that these ordinary men had been with Jesus – and that made all the difference. Later in the same chapter, the disciples prayed, “Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” What a powerful prayer! We should be praying like that today. Then, in verse 31, we read that after they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. What an example for the Church today – that we would seek God's presence, be filled afresh with His Spirit, and boldly proclaim His Word, trusting Him to confirm it with His power.

I want to encourage you to truly know the power of God in your life and to see that power demonstrated through you. The book of Acts records what Jesus continued to do through His Church by the Holy Spirit; it is the account of the early Church living and ministering in His name and through the power of the Holy Spirit. That story has not ended – we are still writing its next chapters today as we continue Christ's mission in the power of His Spirit. As Scripture declares, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This is the very heart of the gospel. Salvation is not found in religion, ritual, or ceremony, but through faith in the name of Jesus Christ alone.

Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every sickness and disease among the people, Matt 9.36ff. It says, ‘When He saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion on them – one translation says ‘His heart was melted' – because they were scattered abroad as sheep with no shepherd.' Yes, these people had leadership in their synagogues, and leadership in the Sanhedrin (the overall governing religious body), despite the internal factions of Pharisees and Sadducees. But Jesus saw that the common people in reality had no shepherd to care for them.  People today are looking for leadership, for direction, for purpose. In Britain, the sale of Bibles in 2025 soared to a record high because young people, ‘Gen Z', don't find any answer in the world. People are drifting, they don't like the leaders they see but they will follow a leader – if that leader is right! And Jesus is the one, the only one! A leader moved with compassion for people! To watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/iJmQsFcOTH0  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive power from God, and that power is meant to be demonstrated. What I sense today is that much of the Church is not living in that power or demonstrating it to the world. So, I would ask: if you have received the Holy Spirit, what difference has it made in your life? When we lay hands on people in the name of Jesus, it is He who heals – not us. We are simply His willing vessels. The call to “repent and be converted” is a call to change. Conversion is more than simply believing; it is a transformed life that reflects Christ. In the book of Acts, we read that the disciples and the early Church devoted themselves daily to meeting together in the temple courts and in their homes. They praised God, enjoyed the favour of the people, and the Lord added to their number day by day. How I long to see that reality again – that every day people are coming to faith, being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and being added to the Church.

As I write this, I'm about to leave for 2 weeks in Ukraine! But I have only just returned from 2 weeks in Kazakhstan, possibly the most powerful of my life – it was an explosion of Power and Fire. This is the beginning of a powerful miracle which I have waited for all my life. From my earliest years of evangelism, I have believed that Joel's prophecy in Chapters 2-3, greater than Acts 2, is to be fulfilled immediately before Christ's Return! Now it's happening! …Aged 94 the Lord is fulfilling His promise to me – in my coming days I will see more Fire, more Power from the Holy Spirit than in the beginning. In these two weeks I have seen more evidence of the Holy Spirit than ever before in my life! And it is clear; I am operating under a Divine Authority greater than that of the opposition!  Read the full newsletter: https://www.eurovision.org.uk/newsletters/2026/7/8/july-2026-newsletter  To make a donation to support David Hathaway's Ministry https://www.eurovision.org.uk/donation 'Let the great wind blow' & 'Mercy' used by kind permission of Vinesong.

We have a simple Gospel – don't complicate it. Jesus called 12 disciples and gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, saying, “Go, tell them, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand'.” Matt 10:1,7. He said this in difficult times, in a troubled society, where the Jews were divided amongst themselves, and Rome controlled the whole of Israel. His fame spread fast across the land, Matt 9:26, because people were looking for a leader, a Messiah, to save them – and because He healed them. People will follow a leader. Today there's an emptiness, the youth are searching. And Jesus is the one! The only one! In Matthew 9:27, two blind men heard of all the miracles Jesus had done and they followed Him into the house where He was, crying out, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” Though blind, they recognised the prophetic significance of who Jesus is. Jesus saw their faith, touched their eyes and their eyes where opened. And Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every sickness and disease among the people, Matt 9:36ff. It says, ‘When He saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion on them – one translation says ‘His heart was melted' – because they were scattered abroad as sheep with no shepherd.' Yes, these people had leadership in their synagogues, and leadership in the Sanhedrin (the overall governing religious body), despite the internal factions of Pharisees and Sadducees. But Jesus saw that the common people in reality had no shepherd to care for them.  To watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Mkuk0ncykzk  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk  

Then Jesus came into Capernaum and a Roman centurion came to Him, ‘Lord, I have a sick servant at home.' Jesus said, ‘I'll come to your house.' He said, ‘Don't, I'm not a good man,' and I don't suppose he was if he was a Roman centurion! But the officer said the most amazing thing, ‘One word from You and my servant will be healed! I'm a man under authority, an officer in the most powerful army in the world. I have authority from those above, and over those under me. My men obey me! Jesus, I recognise in You the same authority.' This is what the Roman officer understood, that Jesus was a man like himself who had been given authority. The centurion's authority was over men – Jesus' authority was over the devil, sin and sickness. We need to understand that we can also receive this authority in our own lives, if we live by faith and obedience to His authority. I stand on the Authority and the Word of God. Jesus is set apart, because He is declared to be the Son of God with POWER. God demonstrates this TODAY by miracles, by signs, by wonders! For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Jesus did not heal the sick by His praying, He healed them by His authority, by His word of command. With this centurion, Jesus spoke the word – the centurion believed, went home and his servant was healed. In verse 16, when the evening was come they brought Him many that were possessed with devils – and he cast out the spirits with His word! And He healed all that were sick, probably including the sceptics and unbelievers! Jesus healed to demonstrate His authority, not just to test the faith or spiritual level of the cripples. When I minister, I do not actually pray for the sick, but I command the sickness to go. My praying comes first before I even start to minister. I need to fast and pray to receive the faith that comes through the Holy Spirit and to receive my authority for the healing miracles that follow. I take my authority directly from God and from His Word. This is what the Roman officer understood, that Jesus was a man like himself who had been given authority. The centurion's authority was over men – Jesus' authority was over the devil, sin and sickness.  For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus was asleep, a storm arose, so the disciples woke Him saying, 'Don't you care, we're going to die! It's the end of the world...' Jesus got up, bound the storm, the winds stopped, the boat was safe, nobody died. When these strong fishermen saw the demonstration of the power that this Man had over the elements, they said, 'What kind of Man do we have in the boat?' Just as Jesus was in the middle of that storm on Galilee, today, wherever, whenever there is a crisis, a tragedy, sickness, sin, fear or pain in your life, Jesus is always there!  'My God is able' 'Jesus Jesus Jesus' & 'Jesus is the one' used by kind permission of Vinesong. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk

In Matthew 9:6, Jesus healed the paralytic – ‘so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.' For me the most important chapter in the Bible on healing is Matthew 8. Jesus came down from the mountain and thousands followed Him. A leper came and said, ‘If You want to, You can heal me!' Jesus said, ‘I want to!' and it was done. Then Jesus came into Capernaum and a Roman centurion came to Him, ‘Lord, I have a sick servant at home.' Jesus said, ‘I'll come to your house.' He said, ‘Don't, I'm not a good man,' and I don't suppose he was if he was a Roman centurion! But the officer said the most amazing thing, ‘One word from You and my servant will be healed! I'm a man under authority, an officer in the most powerful army in the world. I have authority from those above, and over those under me. My men obey me! Jesus, I recognise in You the same authority.' Yes, I have an anointing – but I also have an authority, direct from God, over the devil, over sickness, over sin. Jesus did not heal the sick by His praying, He healed them by His authority, by His word of command. With this centurion, Jesus spoke the word – the centurion believed, went home and his servant was healed. For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

The first time I began major evangelism in Siberia in 1994, I took four hundred co-evangelists and spent three months there, 16,000 km away from home. We didn't have enough money when we went, I had just enough for one-way tickets. Some asked me where were the return tickets, and I told them, in the Gospels Jesus said ‘Go' many times – He never once said, ‘Come back!' But God did provide – we came back – by faith! But in the Gospels, how many men followed Jesus? He fed 5000 men plus women and children – I'm sure that sometimes He preached to more than 20,000. How many did He heal? Take one example – ten lepers, only one returned. Maybe in Jerusalem when the crowds were crying out, ‘Crucify Him!' there were some among them who had been healed. And if there were some that hadn't been healed, they would have been shouting louder still. Only a few of those thousands who had followed Jesus and been healed remained loyal to Him at the end. We face the same situation today. But I want to make it absolutely clear, I cannot find anywhere in the New Testament where Jesus differentiated and said, ‘You're a believer, so you'll get healed,' and ‘You're not a believer, I'm sorry, I won't heal you.' Matthew 8:16 says, ‘He healed all.' For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

I'm challenging you: there are three sources of Power. There's Power in prayer. There's Power in the Blood of Christ. And there's the Power of the Holy Spirit - that's the Power released to us through the resurrected Jesus! I may be 94, but I want more power, in Jesus' Name!  In 1 Cor 12:28ff, Paul is talking about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the different gifts He gives us, “In the church God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, helpers, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking with different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? No. Are all prophets? No. Are all teachers? No. Are all workers of miracles? No. have all got gifts of healing? No. Do all speak in tongues, do all interpret? But covert earnestly the best gifts!”  I strongly believe that if you've received the Holy Spirit, you should call upon Him to give you some of the gifts! Come on! We NEED the gifts of the Spirit. I need the gifts of the Spirit. They are the demonstration you have received the Baptism!  Whatever the gift, whether it's speaking in tongues, prophesying, discerning of spirits, whatever it is, Paul said, “Seek the best gift.” I did. When I received the Holy Spirit, I took this literally. I said, “Holy Spirit, I don't want the vocal gifts” - yes, like Paul, I can speak in tongues ‘more than anybody', and I don't claim to interpret tongues or to be a prophet, I don't claim to have the discerning of spirits, knowledge or wisdom - but I said, “Holy Spirit, what gets me excited is I want the practical gifts: the gifts of faith, of miracles and of gifts of healing!” And to me the most important was the gift of faith - and that's what I asked for! Because without faith you can't please God! Come on! To please God I needed faith! 

We need the power of the Holy Spirit to see miracles! There are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12: – three vocal gifts, speaking with tongues, the interpretation of tongues, and prophecy – three intellectual gifts, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and the discerning of spirits – three practical gifts, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles and the gift of faith. The gift of faith is NOT an intellectual gift! If you see faith as only an intellectual gift, you will never see its power. It is a practical gift; it's the one I ask for – more than any other gift! Jesus HEALED the sick Jesus never once in the four Gospels told His disciples to pray for the sick. He said, ‘HEAL the sick!' (Luke 9&10). He was speaking with authority; this isn't a game you play. He said you've got authority to preach the Gospel and HEAL the sick – both are the command of Christ! Yes, in James 5:14 it says ‘the prayer of faith will save the sick' – but this is in the church. There is a big difference between the call of the evangelist and ministry within the church. ‘Preach the Gospel, HEAL the sick!' – as an evangelist, I HAVE to do it! It's a command. I CAN'T stop preaching the Gospel – I CAN'T stop healing miracles following. And God will even heal the unbelievers – whether they repent or not! For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk   

There is POWER in the Blood of Christ! In the early years when I was still a pastor, we used to sing a lot of great songs about the Blood - many will know the song, ‘There's Power, Power, wonder-working Power, in the precious Blood of the Lamb'. There's Power to overcome sin, Power to break the curse! The significance of the Power of the Blood of Jesus was foreshadowed in the miracle that brought the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt - which is prophetic of our being brought out of a life of sin into the life of Christ! They had to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on the doorpost of their houses. Why? Because that night the angel of death was coming to slaughter the firstborn child of every family living in Egypt. But when the angel of death saw the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites, he passed over and they alone were spared. The Israelites had to remember this every year at Passover and they still do! But we have to come under the covering of the Blood of Christ as our eternal protection. When we take communion, we are reminding ourselves of the Power of the Blood. Scripture is clear: without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Hebrew 9:22. We cannot have a ‘bloodless' Gospel. I'm sorry, you can't! When we take communion, we must remember that it's the Blood of Christ that cleanses us, saves us! The Blood that He shed paid the price of our sin! Come on! This is the basic essential of the Gospel! You cannot have salvation without the Blood! For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk Watch the YouTube version https://youtu.be/cmOXFbprFB8 

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, talking about Jesus, says, ‘You yourselves know the man, born in Nazareth, His father, His mother, His brothers and sisters. But we know He was different because God demonstrated it by miracles, by signs, by wonders!' That is the Word of God and I believe everything in the Word of God is true! Either believe it all, or don't believe any of it! If you start to take bits out of the Bible, what have you left? Even in the Old Testament, how did God deliver Israel out of Egypt? By miracles! How did God cause Israel to repent when they were worshipping Baal in the time of Elijah? By a miracle of fire! We need the power of the Holy Spirit to see miracles! There are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12: – three vocal gifts, speaking with tongues, the interpretation of tongues, and prophecy – three intellectual gifts, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and the discerning of spirits – three practical gifts, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles and the gift of faith. The gift of faith is NOT an intellectual gift! If you see faith as only an intellectual gift, you will never see its power. It is a practical gift; it's the one I ask for – more than any other gift!

Jesus Christ, made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead' (Romans 1:3-4). Paul says Jesus is set apart, because He is declared to be the Son of God with POWER. Very clearly in Scripture, Jesus Christ is confirmed to be the Son of God by the demonstration of power in His life. In the Acts 2:22, Peter speaks in the same way, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, a man' – emphasising God as man – ‘approved of God among you by miracles, by wonders, by signs.' The church of today is apologetic Formal Christianity has totally moved away from the miraculous, and the moment that you do, you've lost the purpose of our Christian faith and its power. If there were no miracles in the life of Jesus – the virgin birth, the resurrection and the miracles of His ministry – then He is no different from any other so-called god or prophet. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, talking about Jesus, says, ‘You yourselves know the man, born in Nazareth, His father, His mother, His brothers and sisters. But we know He was different because God demonstrated it by miracles, by signs, by wonders!'

What is 'reasonable service'? 'Reasonable service' is what the mechanic does to your car when it breaks down and you pay him to put it right, and only when it's fixed is it 'reasonable service'! Or you have somebody to clean, or paint, or build your house - but if what they do is only what they are paid for, they're not giving you anything. You pay for it, so it's 'reasonable service'. Christian, the Son of God gave His whole life for you on the cross - and your reasonable service is to give Him your life back in return. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service' (Romans 12:1, KJV). 'Your Anointing' & 'Lord Jesus I love You' used by kind permission of Vinesong.