Back in the mid-80s I had been pastoring for about 15 years. I went through a very divisive church split. I felt betrayed by my leaders. I guess you could say I was a burnt out pastor. I was still walking with the Lord, but I was very wary of any kind of “submission” situation.
During that time, I visited a friend in Seattle, and went to his church to hear Harold Harding, a pastor/evangelist who I had been listening to on tape for a couple of years. I really liked his teaching. In the service he brought a good sermon and then invited anyone wanting ministry to come forward. A bunch of people stood up and started moving towards the front. Guess what I did? I stood up and headed away from the front and towards the back door! I was standing by the exit door and Pastor Harding pointed to me and said, “I especially want to minister to this man back here”. I was “busted”, so I went up to the front, and he laid hands on me and began to make the sounds of a doctor when he’s finding something wrong in you. “Mmmm…Mmmm…I see that you have gone through a storm. You had the word raised up in your hand but, after the storm, it was taken from you, but God is going to restore you. You are a pastor. You love untangling people’s lives, the Lord is going to restore you.”
I really needed that word! God wanted me to get back involved with people and ministering again. My time of burnout was over!
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Matthew 12:19-21
Beautiful story Rod! I am so glad the Lord comforted you in this way…you have been such a blessing and source of encouragement to me.
Fellowship is a two way street David. You are a blessing to me too!
You and I go back many years and I can relate to your story. I was in a service when you brought a word and received a revelation of the gift of healing the Lord would give you. I claimed the healing for myself and in fact, it was based on the scripture you quoted in Matthew 12. The day I was at the service as you were bringing the word of the Lord, He healed me from debilitating pain in my neck that I had suffered for 5 years. Recently, the Lord reminded me again of this scripture which is also in Isaiah 42:3. Not only do you have a pastor’s heart but the Lord has given you a prophetic word and gift of healing and I thank God for the work He has done in you.