We have authority!

We have a tremendous authority here on earth which comes from Christ through His Word: in two places we can find evidence. First, Jesus called twelve disciples in Luke 9 and then seventy in Luke 10. His command to them was simple, "Boys, no one knows who I am, so before I come, go into all the towns and villages and in My name, preach the Gospel, heal the sick - so that when I come, they will know who I am." Notice that here, in the command to the evangelists, He does not say "PRAY" for the sick, simply "HEAL THEM!" This requires AUTHORITY, and is confirmed by the report these evangelists gave when they returned. They reported that "even the demons are SUBJECT to us!" Why? Because they had authority and used it!

The second evidence of our authority in Christ is in Mark 16 when Jesus, after His resurrection, commands His disciples to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel…" adding "These signs will follow those who believe, they will lay hands on the sick and they WILL be healed." Finally Mark says, they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming His word with SIGNS following. THIS was the demonstration and proof God used to confirm the Gospel and establish the Church! I do not believe that God has changed! If we go in His Name, believing, He will confirm His word again today with SIGNS and WONDERS.

Further confirmation of our authority comes in the promise of Jesus, "These things shall you do and greater, because I go to my Father" - John 14:12; and Acts 1:8, "You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you!" Our power with God is through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and through our relationship with God in prayer following that experience.

I have recently returned from Ukraine. The situation is desperate. The devil has divided families and communities against each other; so many have needlessly died, even more have suffered terrible emotional scarring. We need to pray for that nation on the authority of God's Word. Please join me in taking authority over this chaos: 'Father we come in the greatest Name in heaven and on earth. We come by the power and authority of the Name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. We pray that You will touch Ukraine. Oh holy, mighty God of power, God of the Ukraine, stop the war, stop the fighting, bring peace, bring forgiveness. Oh God, in Jesus' Name we cry out: deliver Ukraine, bring salvation, bring healing. Through the mighty Name of Jesus we bind the power of war, we bind the spirit of death, we command the spirit of fear to leave Ukraine! And we call upon You oh God, bring love, peace and a new hope, and a new prosperity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!'

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Praying for Ukraine

For 24 years I have ministered in Ukraine, first in Rovno in 1991, then in 1992, four times in a little village called Mayaki, near Odessa, where we saw twenty-thousand people gathered to hear the Gospel. Then, by a miracle, in 1992 and 1993, I was the first evangelist to take the Dynamo Stadium and the Sports Palace in Kiev for evangelism! At that time, there was one small Spirit-filled independent church in Ukraine of about 100 people. They stood with me in faith that God would do the impossible - and He did! Between May and October 1994 we held twenty-seven 17-day crusades in Belarus, Siberia and Ukraine; preaching 5 days out of 7, travelling enormous distances. We saw 100,000 saved! After all this evangelism there was an explosion of church growth in Kiev until some of the largest churches in all Europe were in Ukraine!

We need to pray for Ukraine. As recently as three years ago, I was still ministering in the cities which are now war zones. God opened the door for evangelism in 1991 but now that door is closing fast. Many areas are impossible to enter due to this armed conflict. In a letter dated 4 April 1991 I wrote, "There is a threat of a tremendous backlash in Eastern Europe to the freedom movement which may result in a greater repression... God has commanded me to get in there with the Gospel fast, and work while it is still day." That day has now passed for large parts of Russia and Ukraine.

We are so thankful that God gave us the opportunity to preach Jesus throughout Ukraine, Russia and Siberia. - At least they have heard the Truth, before it was too late.

Now, this week, we are ministering again in Ukraine, a country I have given my life for. Only the Holy Spirit can bring bring peace and unity to this dangerously divided nation. Join me in prayer as I ask, 'Holy Spirit bring unity again, Spirit move over this nation, bring healing, peace, restoration and reconciliation. Make these people whole again, Spirit move over this land and these people.'

Post by Ministry of David Hathaway.