SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Mark 16:17-18) (17) "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;" (18) "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
(Mark 16:19-20) (19) "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." (20) "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
(Acts 1:8) “But 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 end of the earth.”
(Acts 3:6-9) (6) "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (7) "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." (8) "And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (9) "And all the people saw him walking and praising God:"
(1 Corinthians 2:4-5) (4) "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" (5) "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
PREFACE SUMMARY
This message reflects on the power of God that was visible in earlier generations, with signs, miracles, and wonders leaving people speechless and stunned because of the great things God was doing in the midst of his people.
It is distressing to discover that some of the very people God anointed so powerfully either slipped into false doctrines, teachings that deviated from the truth of the Gospel, filled early graves, or even fell back into bad habits, such as addiction or moral failings.
My wife Tin and I were scheduled to speak at a Miracle Life Church in Gensan, Philippines. Three days before our trip, I consecrated myself to seek the Lord for a message that would bring comfort and clear direction to the church we were to minister in and all those who would read this message.
The night before our trip, I felt the Lord impress me to walk down the stairs of our apartment complex located on the fifth floor to the basement floor. I usually do this every evening to exercise, but it was well into the night hours when the Lord touched my heart to go for a walk.
While standing on the balcony, I reminded God of how He had led me to give up everything and move to the Philippines for the beginning stages of the end-time revival. I felt like a prisoner ten thousand miles away from home, having to rely on my wife for everything, even to hire a cab to take us where we needed to go.
Beloved, the Lord spoke to me in a way that was truly unexpected, saying, "Your miracle will find you." This unexpected message, echoing prophecies from several mighty men and women of God I received before leaving the United States, filled me with awe and wonder at the Lord's mysterious ways.
Recently, the Lord came to me in a dream, asking me to write an article about Peter and John meeting the paralyzed man by the beautiful gate. He asked me to title it "Your Miracle Will Find You."
One well-known evangelist told me that God needed me in the Philippines immediately instead of my planned arrival in October. He said God would drop the visa requirement before February 18, my birthday.
The evangelist confirmed that God plans to use me for a miracle ministry. They dropped the visa requirements on February 10, 2022, and I arrived in the Philippines on March 10, 2022, to be with my wife. This sequence of events, all falling into place at the right time, was a clear sign of God's divine timing, reassuring me of His perfect plan.
When God spoke to me in my spirit that my miracle would find me, I knew that he was reminding me of the many years when he orchestrated events that led me to the right people, who not only helped me move to another level but also made ways for his glory to be revealed in mighty revivals that touched many people.
My prayer is that after listening to this message, you will understand the urgency of the Spirit's calling to take it to your churches as a wake-up call. The Lord's coming is near, and each of us has a crucial role to play in spreading God's word. Let this message inspire you to action, emphasizing the importance of your contribution to God's mission and his kingdom.
"WHERE IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD?"
Beloved, many of our churches today claim power without showing any compassion toward the culture around them. Some churches have people who leave their services more entertained than elevated. Truth is, "They are just seeking a weekend experience that will cost them nothing."
They do not want the truth and do not want to face their sins. They want a neat religion they can control and refuse to sit under a Bible-believing minister who will label sin for what it is and love to complain that preaching like that could put them on a guilt trip. They want the power of the resurrection without first suffering the agony of the cross, and it is forbidden territory for their pastor to preach against sins like repentance, brokenness, and unforgiveness.
(Acts 3:6-9) (6) "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (7) "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." (8) "And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (9) "And all the people saw him walking and praising God:"
The above scriptures speak of Peter and John, the disciples of Jesus, making their way down to the temple to pray. Along the way, they noticed a man lying by the beautiful gate near the temple, asking for alms.
This large and beautiful gate was embedded with precious jewels and stones, undoubtedly a sight for everyone passing by. In the presence of all this beauty lies a man they later discovered was lame from birth. Others loved him enough to carry him daily to sit by the beautiful gate to beg for alms.
Peter and John did not pray for the man, but the scriptures declare that Peter took hold of the man's right hand, lifted him, and said, "Look on us. For silver and gold, we do not have, but such as we do have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise and walk."
The man immediately received strength in his ankles, including his feet. The man rose, leaping and praising God. He entered the temple with Peter and John, leaping and praising God in front of everyone, including the elders. To me, this demonstrates more power outside the temple than in the temple.
Beloved, may I say unto you that God's power is not confined to church buildings but actively touches broken humanity outside the four walls of a church. He is looking for someone to answer his call on their life and allow him to use them to bring others into the family of God.
Notice that Peter and John did not pray for the man, but Peter took hold of his hand and said, "Rise up and walk." The disciples of Jesus were putting into action the authority delegated to them in calling on the name above all names, and we today can use that same name and authority to free others.
May I tell you that when we use Jesus's name, we use a name God recognizes, which causes Holy Angels to stand at attention. (Psalms 103:20) " Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."
Beloved here is a man who represents lost, broken humanity and depends on others to take him where he wants to go, and notice that the man lying by the beautiful gate met Peter and John, who were known to be unlearned men. These chosen disciples of the Lord may not have been educated, but they knew how to walk in kingdom authority and used that authority to free the crippled, lame man lying by the beautiful gate outside the temple.
May I tell you that the power of God that was available to them by using the name above every name is available to you and me today; yes, the same power that came forth and healed the lame man by the beautiful gate is looking for someone who will surrender their life to God and step out on his word in faith to believe him for the impossible.
Beloved, I ask you to use your imagination and visualize this man interrupting the temple service, shouting that he no longer has to rely upon others to take him where he desires to go. Listen as he exclaims that he now has two good legs and two good feet to take him anywhere he needs to go. Can you imagine what you would do if you were him?
When these men of God acted in faith, calling on Jesus' name, the power of God moved to heal the lame man. Have we, as believers not been delegated that same authority by Jesus to set the captive free today?
Beloved, God does not give a gift for that day that is not available today because if that were so, he would be giving an imperfect gift. Do not the Holy Scriptures (Hebrews 13:8) declare that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever? This means what he was yesterday, he will be today, and what he did yesterday, he will do today.
Mark the Sixteenth chapter informs us that the same delegated authority for the Apostles is available for all who will believe and call upon his name, and did you not know that we today, as the body of Christ here on earth, have the power to place the devil under arrest through that same delegated authority? (Matthew 18:18-20)
When I think of how that man must have felt as he went leaping and praising God in that temple, I also visualize the Lord sitting by the pool of Siloam, watching the priests in their colorful attire come to draw water from the pool and perform their ritual dance. I can almost picture in my mind that it was then when the Lord, knowing that he would soon become the living water, said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
John 7:37) (37) "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'
(Ezekiel 47:3-4) [3] "And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles." [4] "Again, he measured a thousand and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again, he measured a thousand and brought me through; the waters were to the loins."
(Ezekiel 47:5-7) [5] "Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over." [6] "And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and it caused me to return to the brink of the river." [7] "Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other."
Beloved, I could speak for hours about the significance of the water mentioned in Ezekiel chapter forty-seven. The water starts at ankle depth, goes up to the knees, reaches the loins, and eventually transforms into a river that requires us to swim.
The river represents the depths of the Holy Spirit. In this blessed river, we will witness the power of the living God in healing lost humanity from their sins and diseases with miracles, signs, and wonders that are yet to be seen.
Notice that the prophet had a guide with him until the water became too deep to walk, and he had to start swimming. For the prophet to swim, the guide had to let him go, and another exciting aspect of this story is that when the prophet returned to the river's brink, he saw trees growing and realized that new life and growth had come about.
My wife, some close friends, and I took a memorable trip to a breathtaking white sandy beach last year. While there, I decided to take a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear ocean, an experience that became profoundly spiritual—this moment reminded me of a childhood memory when I was just eight. My dad had gently placed me on a small, bright yellow air mattress, unaware that the tide was receding.
Caught in the strong currents, I felt the pull, the force of the ocean separating me from safety. Like a giant hand, a massive wave knocked me off and left me feeling small and helpless in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.
Despite my inability to swim, I turned to prayer. In awe-inspiring grace, I felt God's hand guiding me to my little yellow raft, and even a wave sent to help me back onto it. Against all odds, I was guided back to shore, a testament to the power of faith and the presence of God in our lives.
Stepping into the waters of that pristine white beach, the memory of my childhood brush with drowning was vivid. As I ventured into the deeper waters, I felt God's presence enveloping me. His voice whispered, "Relax and let the water carry you."
In summary, the early church learned how to let the Spirit carry them and displayed a remarkable manifested glory that can be summarized as follows: “Wherever God receives the glory, the power of God will be manifested in places and situations where God is revered and worshiped as God.”
"ARE YOU RUNNING ON A BATTERY, OR ON A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY?"
Beloved, as we journey through these significant times, I would like to converse with you by asking a few fundamental questions. I believe these questions can potentially shift our perspectives on the events occurring within many of our churches today.
1. Do you know the Lord in the power of His resurrection?
2. Did you know that God, in His infinite power, created a fish that can produce six to eight hundred volts of
electricity in its body? What a magnificent display of His creative power!
3. Did you also know that it takes 600 volts of electricity to run one of today’s vast electric trains?
God designed electric eels to produce more than twice that much electricity, up to 850 volts, which they use to control electrical impulses and send low-voltage bursts to catch fish that try to hide from them. This is a powerful demonstration of God's design and control over all forms of power, including the power we seek in our spiritual lives.
Many speak about the need for power, but did you know God ordains all power? (Romans 13:1) "There is no power aside from God, and all power is ordained of God."
We cannot expect to see God move when we come before him without a sense of expectancy.
In contemporary church settings, a prevalent weakness is individuals not fully understanding their assigned roles and allowing others to disrupt their vision. If you do not follow your vision, which is driven by your purpose, others will have you following theirs.
Many church leaders lack the discernment needed to recognize when they place someone in authority over their people who are not of God. Our responsibility is to align ourselves with God's Holy Word, which He honors above His name, and maintain our solitude with Him in prayer, giving His Spirit time to place His will in our hearts.
Beloved, when God shows up in His holiness, the works of men are tested, and what we thought was the workings of His Spirit will be shown to be nothing more than our fleshly cravings and desires, which will burn and be consumed with fire.
Many contemporary churches have transitioned into social clubs, where the focus has shifted away from demonstrating love and compassion toward lost people. This change has led some churches to resemble the selfish elder brother depicted in the parable of the prodigal son, who lacked empathy and understanding.
We must listen to God's voice and be open and receptive to His message to hear it and receive His blessings. Our faith grows stronger when we spend time in God's Word and see Him come through for us, even in the most challenging circumstances.
When we come together as a unified body, embracing love and harmony, we have the potential to accomplish remarkable feats. By sharing God's message of hope and salvation, we can offer guidance and support to those searching for answers, contributing to a more compassionate and understanding world.
It's vital to recognize that nurturing a deep, meaningful relationship with God requires genuine commitment and sincerity. We cannot seek quick fixes or shortcuts in this journey. Instead, we need to be prepared to earnestly devote ourselves to seeking His anointing through acts of consecration, dedicated periods of solitude, fervent prayer, and disciplined fasting.
Beloved, let me say that when we are willing to embrace these spiritual disciplines, we acknowledge that even our Lord Himself humbled Himself to do the same. It's crucial not to let self-condemnation weigh heavily on our hearts, as this can lead us astray from our intended purpose to fulfill our vision.
"GOD"S MANIFESTED POWER AND GLORY ON DISPLAY."
God's manifested glory and presence will be on display and can be seen wherever His attributes are displayed. His divine presence is most seen in the transformation of lives, the acts of love and compassion, and the genuine worship through answered prayers, moments of grace and mercy, provision in times of need, healing, and restoration.
This omnipresence can be seen in the kindness of others, the selfless acts that uplift and change individuals, and the heartfelt expressions of reverence and adoration towards God, connecting us all in His glory. This glory is unmistakably evident in various biblical passages that underscore God's presence and power among believers.
For instance, in Acts 5:14-15, we see believers being added to the church and the sick being brought out into the streets so that the passing shadow of Peter could bring healing and deliverance to them.
This powerful demonstration underscores the direct impact of God’s glory on people's lives. It provides reassurance and comfort in public spaces and showcases His divine presence and influence.
This would be an excellent place to mention the more than twenty years that God used me as a truck driver to minister throughout America's inner cities. These years will burn in my memory for the rest of my life.
After suffering through more than a seven-year nervous condition, God gave me a heart to reach the street people, and I did. While wearing my Indiana Jones hat and feeling like the king of the road, the Lord used me to win the hearts of drugged-up people that others would cast aside as trash but beloved. Did you not know that these are the people God's Son Jesus came and gave his life to?
If that Indiana Jones hat could talk, it would tell stories of going under bridges, old abandoned homes, and crack houses to show the love of God to a hurting world.
Beloved, for up to twelve years, I did not tell these street people that I was a famous truck driver preacher, for they killed the one before me and shot at another. Still, God had me on assignment, and I believed that the same message that changed me could and would change them.
Please know that you are not going to preach to these kinds of people living on the streets fighting for their very lives without getting to know them, without placing your life in danger.
These people had to see the love of Jesus working through me to soften their hearts before they could desire what I had to offer; therefore, preaching to them was off the table, but it would come later.
I had undertaken some martial arts training when I was young, and this experience helped me in the streets, for there were times when I had to get rough with some of these people physically. For twelve long years, they had watched how I treated an elderly black gentleman named "Mr. Roosevelt," who became like a daddy to me.
I took them clothes, bedding, money, and many times, paid for him to get to a shelter to get cleaned up. Still, there were times that he did not smell so good, and one time, during a terrible rain storm, I let him sit inside my truck, and instead of getting out to urinate, he did it in the seat, which I liked to have never got that smell out of that seat. I finally used something they used to eliminate the animal smell, which cleaned it up.
The store owners felt sorry for him and would let him stay inside during freezing weather; however, they would inform me later that he never once attempted to touch anything, but they just could not put up with his stench.
His name was Mr. Roosevelt, and some tell me he passed away years later while sitting on a guard rail, but did you know there were times when the nearby truck stop, out of respect for me, would let me bring him in for a good breakfast meal?
Beloved, I am not revealing some of my past to brag about myself but about the power available to those who will take God at his word and step out in faith, trusting that the one who called you to it is equipped to take you through it, and I often wonder about the seven-year mental state I suffered through from the early 1980"s to 1994, which became like a nightmare to me with no happy ending in sight.
I know what it is like to be whipped and cursed by a rough, demanding father who would help the world, even the common man off the street, but did not show that kind of love to his family. I am not proud of what I did, but I had my reasons for how he had dishonored my family. I did apologize to him later, sometime before he passed.
At fifteen, I know what it is like to get thrown out of the house and live out of my car, thinking that the whole world is out to get me. However, one thing I did was that even if I stayed out intoxicated all night, I still showed up to work the next day and often found myself sleeping at the business in my car.
Looking back on those trying years, I now understand and realize that the years, which seemed like a nightmare to me, were used by God to prepare me to face these street gangs without fear. Those troublesome years were used to get me to a place of compassion where I could bring forth a message that would penetrate their hardened hearts with the most excellent news: "God loves Sinners!
The protecting hand of almighty God was on my life to see me through all those years. I had a pimp run me down one night on a bicycle wanting to shake my hands, informing me that he had noticed that when the ladies that stay with him come home after meeting the truck driver Guardian Angel, they come home talking to each other about how they begin to feel different inside like they are unique and loved.
Beloved, it was not long until the devil had a gang surround me with the intent of taking my life, but God had other plans, which turned out to work in my favor. I had been warned about them by some street friends, but I was not scared, for I had already had guns and knives pulled on me, and when this gang moved in to surround me, I decided, well, if this is the way to leave this world showing the love of Jesus, then what better way to go?
I walked up to the ring leader and said, "You are not going to show me a dance that I have not already danced to before because I have danced with the big boys, so do you want to lead, or do you want me to lead? I said, "But do you want me to tell you why I do what I do in these streets?" He said yes, to which I replied, "Almighty God had every reason in the world to beat me up and throw me in the trash, but he decided not to."
Beloved, the Spirit of God softened his heart until tears started streaming down that gangster's cheeks. In front of all the other members, he said, "You are a good man," which caused the others to back away and nod their approval.
For several years I took tons of shawls, clothes, blankets, pillows, belts, dresses, etc., in my big truck to help these people, for they need to know that not everyone is against them, and after twelve years of not letting them know that I was a minister of the gospel, let me tell you that when they found out that Guardian Angel the Trucker was a preacher, I could not take enough Bibles to them, for their mothers, grandmothers, etc. sent them for bibles, and because during that time, I was a member of the American Bible Society, I had no problem getting bibles.
Beloved, have you ever noticed that sometimes there seems to be more power outside the church, waiting for someone to believe in God enough to bring it inside? And who better to get it in than those who have experienced a transformation, like Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, or the person who once lived under a bridge?
Only God knows how many lives were changed during my years of inner-street ministry. Still, one thing is for sure: like Peter and John at the beautiful gate, I used the power that was available to me through the name of Jesus to make a difference in lives that were living for another day. Some of them had committed crimes while high on drugs and have no recollection of even committing the crimes.
For those of you who have a burning heart to be used by God, I wish to leave you with four things that will help prepare you to be the one God will use in this next move of his Spirit, which will be a move that will be a revival of his glory which better defined, would be his way of life where the power of the word of God is preached using the authority that is in the name of Jesus to reach a hurting world that is looking for answers with some even looking for a reason to live.
After ending a 43-year trucking career and being led by the Lord to live and conduct ministry throughout the Philippines, the Lord awakened me in the middle of the night to write down some essential words, and I wish to share them with you.
1. Do not doubt that I, the Lord, am not with you because I am the one who brought you to it, and if I bring you to it,
I am capable and will bring you through it.
2. Those who do not understand you will see me working through you and start believing I am with you.
3. As long as you remain humble before me, I will work through you to touch others. Remember, I chose you for
this time and era.
4. Never doubt that the one who planned your life before you were born is right by your side, ordaining your steps
and opening doors of opportunity for you to enrich the lives of others.
As believers experience spiritual growth, healing, and liberation from past wounds, their deepening relationship with God becomes evident as a manifestation of His glorious power. This transformation in their lives is a testimony to God's glory and an inspiring example for others.
When individuals exhibit acts of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion towards others, they exemplify God's attributes and reflect His compassion. This showcases His character and expresses His manifested glory through their interactions with those around them.
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, it is evident in today's world that particular churches prioritize social engagement over spiritual fulfillment. Instead of portraying the essence of a place of worship, they resemble more of a social gathering with a diminished sense of compassion for those in need. This pattern aligns with the behavior of the selfish elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son, reflecting a shift away from their underlying purpose.
Over many years, it has become evident that certain church elders regularly concealed their own and others' transgressions, effectively sacrificing their spiritual integrity in favor of personal advantages.
Their actions have contributed to a widespread rejection of religious beliefs. Consequently, it is essential to ask: "Have we gradually become accustomed to the prevalence of moral darkness in our midst?"
There is a growing trend in some churches where the leadership is apprehensive about inviting evangelists to conduct revival events. This reluctance stems from a fear of potential revelations that may come to light during these events. As a result, some pastors resort to organizing revival events among themselves.
These so-called revivals often consist of meetings where the pastors claim to have a fervent spiritual fire. However, upon closer examination, no documented accounts of changed lives or tangible evidence of transformative impacts following these events exist. This trend raises concerns about these internal revivals' authenticity and true impact.
In today's church world, it seems that there's a potential shift towards leaders placing greater emphasis on developing elaborate programs and constructing grand buildings rather than focusing on effectively ministering to the lost culture surrounding their church.
This raises the question of whether the central mission of reaching out to the community and guiding those seeking spiritual support is being pushed aside in favor of other priorities.
There is a growing trend of pastors resigning from their positions in today's society. This trend prompts the question: are these resignations a result of intense pressure from congregation members who are expected to embody the values of God, or is it due to constant scrutiny and questioning from the deacon board regarding every decision and action of the pastors?
(Proverbs 15:17) "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred in addition to that."
Why do pastors, who are barely managing, often find themselves needing to beg people to attend church services continuously? Is it because people have become so accustomed to immediate results and easy convenience in all aspects of their lives that they expect a church experience that requires no commitment or sacrifice?
Beloved, if we are to experience the fire of God once again in our churches, we must be willing to discard our methods, including our timed programs, and give God flexible room to move in our meetings.
We must realize that if we are to experience God's power in our services, we must first experience it in our souls.
This will require spending enough time with God to allow him to place his burden for lost souls in our hearts.
We are all part of Christ's glorious body; therefore, let us understand that we are better together looking like one body to a hurting world instead of a bunch of loose body parts attempting to be God's man or woman of the hour.
Until we overcome our selfish behavior, recognize that we need each other, and understand that we have one common enemy, we won't truly be fighting the good fight of faith. When Paul said he fought a good fight, he wasn't referring to his local church.
Beloved, it is essential to recognize and acknowledge that God works through us as individuals to serve as positive influencers, catalyzing change within our current generation and globally.
This change encompasses a broad spectrum, from social and spiritual transformation to significant economic shifts, all intended to leave a lasting impact on future generations for the greater glorification of God.
Achieving this ambitious goal necessitates collaborative efforts across all sectors of society to bring about a sweeping and profound transformation that will revolutionize our nation and ripple out to touch other corners of the world.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
