Fear or Doubt

It is not possible to get much done for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven if you are afraid of failure. John Wimber, who took up leadership of the Vineyard Fellowship of churches in the 70’s, felt led to begin praying for sick people in and around the congregation of 500+ members he was leading at one point. For 10 months, no one was healed. Many people left the congregation. One night, he responded to a husband’s request that he come pray for the man’s very ill wife. He prayed, and then began warning the husband that she probably wouldn’t be healed. While he was talking, she got out of the bed she was in, completely well.

John didn’t have fear, but he did have doubt. Fear would have made him quit asking for miracles. Doubt didn’t stop him – it just made him ineffective. When his boldness met her faith, a trickle began in John’s prayer ministry that opened to a river. By 1986, hundreds of people were healed each month as people in the Vineyard Fellowships prayed for them.

Supernatural, by name, is not natural, but by decree from our King, it is normal. Step into whatever He directs you to. Don’t fear failure or harming people by getting their hopes up when nothing happens. Obey Him because He is worthy. Leave His reputation and the results up to Him.

When the persecution broke over the ekklesia in Acts 8, everybody but the apostles was scattered out of Jerusalem, and ordinary people began doing extra ordinary things:

Saul agreed with putting him to death.

On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. But devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church, and he would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and preached the Messiah to them. The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

(Acts 8:1-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)