Monthly Archives: August 2023

Now here’s an amazing miracle

by ~ Chris G. Bennett (UK)

For those of you who haven’t known me long, here is a healing testimony from 2009 in Denmark — when I was being launched into ministry by my mentor.

I was in Denmark, ministering one evening in 2009, I think it was. We were in a prayer meeting and we were asked by a lady, called Bente, if we would come to Copenhagen to pray with her husband Frank as he was very depressed.

A serious storm which closed all the bridges was stilled around the house while we were praying — but that’s another story.

Frank was a Christian biker who had been involved in a very serious accident. He, and his Harley, were mown down by a van driven, I believe, by a lady doctor, who saved his life at the scene!

He was very severely injured — shattered legs and many minor injuries. The Royal Copenhagen Hospital had told him that he’d never walk without help nor without pain again.

Just to give you an idea, one leg was so badly broken that it was now five inches shorter than the other!

Curvature of the spine had set in and many other injuries had manifested which “couldn’t be healed” — they gave Frank no hope — only drugs to lessen the pain.

The next day, three of us arrived at Frank’s second floor apartment in a Copenhagen suburb. Fortunately for him the lift worked. Frank was standing on his balcony, leaning on two walking sticks.

My mentor, Peter, called out to him, “Are you Frank?”

“Yes!”

“Are you ready to be healed?”

“Yes!”

Frank met us at the door. He had great difficulty manouvering even round his home. We learned that he’d just spent an enormous sum on hand-made built-up shoes that would allow him to walk a bit easier, but the hospital had told him that he’d only get worse until he ended up wheelchair bound and a hopeless cripple.

Peter, John, and I, our ‘team’ on that trip, prayed then turned to Frank. Peter called out words of knowledge — John and I prayed and ministered to Frank.

We sat him on a chair. We prayed first for his shortened leg. We knew something special was about to happen when his shortened leg grew those five inches!

The hair stood up on our necks!

Then we stood Frank up and I watched his spine straighten out — like dominoes, each vertebrae clicked back into its proper position!

He squared his shoulders and everything came up straight! He stood — straight.

For the next hour, Peter called a condition, John and I ministered, Frank was healed of 20-odd injuries and conditions.

Tinnitus, knee problems, various other leg and ankle problems, pelvic misalignment, double vision, various aches and pains — every single one was healed by first revelation, then by laying on of hands and prayer!

Frank began, gingerly at first, then confidently, walking around. He laid his two sticks down saying, “I no longer need these!”

We were all praising God. We left him and Bente singing praises.

The next day, Frank had a hospital appointment to discuss further therapy to help him maintain mobility.

The consultants didn’t even recognise him as he walked, unaided and completely upright into the office.

At Franks request, all medical checks to verify his miracle were formally attested and passed to a Christian doctor in Frank’s Church.

The consultant admitted to his miracle. What happened? Jesus has healed me!”

He is a walking, talking miracle!

He still lives in the Copenhagen area; still rides a big Harley Davidson; still runs a Christian biker ‘gang’ spreading the good news of Christ among bikers.

Glory to God!!

First Peter chapter 2—More

As we look at Peter’s letter to people in various places we see how he was encouraging them, preparing them for a most important, earth-shattering event was to take place. The Jerusalem temple and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation (read Matthew 21:33-46). This would impact them and many Jews where they lived. Here we look at the second half of chapter 2. In this part of his letter, let’s look at several behaviour matters Peter calls on his readers. Please let’s start by reading verses 11-12 . . .

Peter dubbs his readers “temporary residents and foreigners” who must live exemplary lives in their society and amonng their neighbours. Note how this is linked in with ‘preserving their eternal souls’. Like us today, they were on Planet Earth for a very brief time. We too face a very short stay in this world. It’s as though we were aliens–‘Just a passin’ through’–we are en-route—as though merely on a journey. It is so important to reflect on how short our time is here. This ‘time’ cannot be compared to the eternal life we will experience, just no comparison. Right?

He continues the need of honorable behavior, so that their neighbours when they face their Maker, their Judge, they will have to give honour to God. Just imagine that all the unbelieving people we deal with and have related to in our lifetime will be forced to acknowlege God’s glory and his work in our lives! Now look at verses 13-17 . . .

Peter continues the theme of believers showing the best of behavior as believers “for the Lord’s sake”. The Lord’s sake is the important part. We live in His world and this is the day He has made. This is emphasised in v. 15 “the Lord’s will”. It’s all about the behaviour of Christians being seen as exemplory in the place where they (we) live. So our critics have no leg to stand on. We too must live a law-abiding life before a watching world.

Although you are free, he says (v16), yet don’t forget that you are God’s slaves! So important to understand we are free. This is very applicable for us today. We must never use that freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect is due to everyone: the family of believers and especially the fear of God. Obey the law and rules of the road. Respect the king? Which one? Yes, King Jesus!

Then follows vs 18-20 about relationships between slaves and masters. In the ancient world slaves were an essential part of the ecomony, In the Roman world there were more slaves than free. Was this God’s will? Of course not, and in due time slavery would be discontinued though it remains in our world today. It was the law that slaves obeyed masters, their ‘owners’.

That word ‘submit’comes up a few times here. The Greek original is hypertasso which according to Strong’s can carry the idea of a voluntaryattitude, giving in, cooperating, or assuming responsibility. Still for us today if we are employed and have an obligation to do what the boss tells you.

Note v.19-21: “God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.” Like those first century believers we might have to suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, following Christ’s example and “follow in his steps.”

Thus as Jesus (v22) never sinned or deceived anyone. Because he did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor must we. “He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly”. We are called to do the same, though our conditions have changed vastly compared to the Roman world.

In V 24 here are two exciting and wonderful promises: Because “he personally carried our sins in his body on the cross” the result is that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right! How good is that!

But not only that: By his wounds you are healed. Not will be healed some day. Not provisionally healed. Not possibly healed. Not maybe healed. Not were healed . But are healed!

What a great declaration this is (v25) . . . “Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” These two verses wonderfully echo Isaiah 53:5-6.

Let’s talk some more again next time.

First Peter-Chapter 2

As we look at Peter’s first letter to people in various places we see how he was encouraging them, preparing them. Preparing them for what?

A most important, earth-shattering event was to take place. Terrible judgment was about to come on many back there in Jerusalem and Judea. The fabulous temple there and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation (Mat 21:43-46). This would impact them and many Jews where they lived. Here we look at the first half of chapter 2.

In this part of his letter, Peter calls on his readers to thirst for the “pure milk of the word like newborn babies, if they have tasted the kindness of the Lord” and put aside all malice, envy, slander, hypocrisy etc.

Think how much the Lord has blessed us all abundantly! There’s much more. So let’s keep thirsting after the pure milk of God’s word to grow our salvation!  So important to long for the word of God. Look, it doesn’t matter how mature we think we are. The Lord’s blessing is inexhaustible. He wants us!

Yes, grow up in your salvation. Salvation is not merely getting newborn, started. There’s a big future idea, a whole of life growth of our salvation, as Peter reminded them several times in his letter.

So where to go? Peter says go to Jesus. Where else? Jesus is the One to come to—his open arms. He is the “chosen and precious.” Quoting from Isaiah 28, Peter identifies Jesus as like the most important stone in a building. That’s the cornerstone. It has to be laid exactly, in line, dead level, plumb. Then the building will follow the right design.

“Look, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone and who believes in him shall not be disappointed”.

Jesus said if you don’t gather with him, you are scattering (Luke 11:23). Do you want to be building for God? Well, you have to strictly follow the playbook! Jesus is “the living stone that was rejected by men but chosen by God”. You have to build on the true rock, His words. Anything else is on sand. Anything else is useless. What God has not planted will be pulled up by the roots (Mat 15:13). This is serious.

This building design called for these newborns to be stones too—living stones! Each was being built up into a spiritual house for a special role of offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus.

And so are we today—part of the house that He is building, against which the gates of hell will not stand.

Peter wrote (v7) this precious situation belongs to the followers of Jesus. Quoting Psalm 118:22, he showed that the stone which rejected, actually became the very head of the corner! Then he added that others stumble because they are disobedient to the word not following the designer. For these, Jesus the precious stone was “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence” (Isa 8:14) and doom awaits them.

These “builders”—the disobedient, were the unbelieving Jews of that generation and their system, those who rejected their messiah, that wicked generation.

He goes on to tell his readers (v9) “you are a chosen race, you are a royal priesthood, you are a holy nation, you are the people of God’s own possession! Peter used those very same terms as did Moses (Deut 7:6) applying them to these newborn Gentiles and Jews. There was a whole new creation being formed here, a whole new nation with the bad tenants, Jewish elites and their fleshly system will be destroyed as Jesus had foretold in Mat 21:43 and Mat 23, and a new spiritual one will be formed.

Why are his readers new-born? That they “may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” That is our role, our privilege today.

We are the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).

Peter recalls what the prophet Hosea wrote prophetically “once you were not a people but now you are the people of God. You once had not received mercy but now you have received mercy” (Hosea 1:10). This points to a mostly Gentile readership. These newbies are the true people of God! And so are we who believe today.

Applause!

All this came from the pen of Peter, a Jewish born fisherman, but now since born from above through the resurrection of Jesus with whom he had walked for 3 years, a mere 30 years had past.

Only 30 years previously Peter could never forget when they nailed Jesus to the cross and then God raised Him up 3 days later as He had foretold.

We struggle to grasp the reality, to feel, to enter in to those historic scenes—it all happened so long ago.

Peter’s readers were the forerunners of a totally new society having great responsibility, never seen before. So Peter urges them, aliens and strangers, to keep their behavior excellent among the outsiders. They may be slandered as evil by others but will see their good deeds and glorify God in the day of visitation that is coming soon.

This phrase ‘day of visitation’ is fascinating. Peter had in mind an ‘end-times’ event (see 1 Pet 4:7).

The glorious light of God’s people show that God’s judgments are righteous and this will be acknowledged in the coming judgment.

So their behaviour would be very important.

Let’s talk more about that next time.

First Peter Letter 1

We were looking at an amazing scriptural letter by St Peter who described himself as an apostle (a sent messenger) of Jesus Christ. He wrote to people he describes as ‘aliens, strangers’—they didn’t belong here. How can that be?

He wanted to encourage them, to prepare them, for a most important, earth-shattering event was soon to take place. Terrible judgment was about to come on many back in Jerusalem and Judea. The temple and the Jewish religion as known for centuries, Judaism, would be destroyed and replaced by a new creation. This would also seriously impact them and many traditional Jews where they lived.

We read they were in various places, scattered throughout Pontos, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These were real places in the Ancient World. It’s interesting if you check Acts chapter 2 you find those same places mentioned among the many other regions, from which people had come to Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Pentecost. Acts 2 describes how on that day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.

So Peter was addressing some of those same people who had heard him proclaiming on that day some 25 or 30 years previously. These would have gone back to their homelands and no doubt bore witnesses for Jesus by the power of the Spirit where they lived.

Peter calls them chosen by God the Father, sanctified by the Holy Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was amazing thinking for a man who was still ‘Jewish’ (as most early believers were) to put Jesus alongside the Holy Spirit and the eternal living Lord God, the Father. One God.

Here we see a a typical salutation of a letter in the Ancient World.

Peter then reminded them about the living hope that they had through Christ’s resurrection. The resurrection is the basis of the way, the truth and the great story of Jesus. Without the resurrection there would be no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be no Christians.

They had been truly reborn through God’s great mercy! We are all utterly dependent on his mercy. Born again to a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection of Jesus. Remember that happened only 25 or 30 years previous to his writing!

For us, it’s now 2000 years ago. That time lapse makes it harder for us but for these people it was fresh in their memory.  Just think, you can remember so many things clearly that happened 25 or 30 years ago in your life.

Jesus had been killed and then came alive!

Peter’s readers are described as a possessing an inheritance that is reserved safely in heaven for them. They were already enjoying that sure hope! They were strangers and aliens here on Earth, like we are today but there’s an inheritance waiting for us who believe that’s reserved for us in heaven too! What a fabulous investment.

In the meantime, these aliens were protected by the power of God through faith for a full salvation he says is ‘ready to be revealed in the last time’.  They believed they were in the ‘last days’ when their salvation would be revealed.

Peter mentioned this idea of the ‘last time’ several times in his writings. This salvation ready to be revealed the original word is apocalypse. That brings to mind the time of the end. Peter saw his writing as fitting into that period. His readers could greatly rejoice in this understanding, even though now for a ‘little while’, short time—not a long, long time.

A little while and then things will radically change for them. If this mighty change was in a little while for them, how can it be soon for us today?

For a short time they will have various trials. Difficulties will prove the genuineness of their faith. Really it’s when we are subject to trials that our faith is is proven, tried out.

That experience, that assurance is much more precious than gold which is perishable. Peter reminded them that the testing by fire would be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation (apocalypse) of Jesus Christ.

 His appearing, his coming and Peter goes on to say that although you have not seen him you love him and though you do not see him now you believe in him and you greatly rejoice with joy in express expressible and full of glory.

He went on to talk more about this wondrous salvation now experienced by God’s people.  All those OT prophets prophesied of the grace that would come. They tried to work out this mystery. We had studied them together—how they accurately foretold the coming of the messiah and the suffering that he would experience.

They never experienced what these Peter wrote to had experienced. Even the angels in heaven were ignorant of what those early believers understood. So us also today!

In view of what will take place ‘in a little while’, Peter goes on to appeal to them to modify their behaviour, to prepare themselves for action, and fix their hope completely on the grace about to be brought to you at the revelation (apocalypse) of Jesus Christ.

Clearly they were expecting the coming, the revealing, of Jesus within their lifetime.  They must not be conformed to the former life which they had in their ignorance. and so they needed to conduct themselves appropriately during the (very short) time of their stay on the Earth.

Today you and I must be prepared. We too must live appropriately. We also are not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from a futile way of life inherited from our forebears. We too have just a little while here! The Father will impartially judge according to each person’s work, Peter reminds us.    For “all flesh is as grass and withers. But the word of the Lord abides forever.”