the Holy Spirit goes to rehab.

Have you ever been mastered by anything? have you ever desired something of this world that brings about destruction and ruin in your life? have you gotten to a place where you couldn´t stand yourself so much that you cut, and cut, and cut to try and take your own life, only to end up with scars, and scars, and scars on your armsand in your heart? Have you seen spiritual warfare working so heavily over a group of people that they are in constant battle with the authorities of this world? have you ever sat in front of about 25 men who have experienced all of these things and wondered how in the wolrd to bring them hope?

 

the first week we went to rehab it was interesting to say the least. A few of us shared, we sang some spanglish songs, prayed a little bit, and left. We were infants, we were not prepared to share the gospel, we were not prepared to lead and speak, we were still used to our complacency and we expected to just be there. and honestly, im not sure we brought anything to them on that first day. Don´t get me wrong, it was good. but that was it. There was no joy on their faces. no hope in their eyes. some were grateful that we even showed up, but most had no emotion on their face. we continued to go back every week…. and then something CRAZY happened… we as a team experienced the HOLY SPIRIT. He tossed us, twirled us, purified us, and gave us a new heartbeat. This new heartbeat beat for something much greater than ourselves. LUB DUB LOVE DUB LOVE DUB . Our hearts began to break for what His heart breaks for. needless to say, we stopped planning about what we were going to say or do and took the holy Spirit with us to rehab instead.

 

When the Holy Spirit enters into a room, chains are broken, walls are knocked down, revelations are revealed, joy, peace, love, and strength are ignited and PEOPLE.BREAK. Our last few experiences at rehab have been quite different. Holy Spirit different. We have been learning a lot about prayer and Ephesians 6:18 says

 

we began praying in the Spirit over these men last week, and this week when we went back we washed their feet and prayed over them again. the battle is hard. its tough. My hands were literally tingling and my legs shaking from the strength that was being poured out of me and onto them as i fought and prayed life over these men. It is a matter of life and death. and we will fight for their lives becasue our God is ALWAYS victorious.We have put on the full armor of God. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual of evil in the heavenly realms” ( Epesians 6:12)  These men have come alive. I see Joy on their faces now, and Hope in their eyes. They sing and shout now. they hug and smile at us now. One man in particular has been impressed on my heart. Last week we prayed over him for the entire time, speaking truth and strength over his life, asking the Lord to reveal his goodness and pour out his love. I sat there crying, and crying, and crying, as i pleaded with the Lord to allow me to carry his burdens for a little while so that he could be free to experience His grace.The Lord granted me my wish and I surely felt his burdens, and my heart was in complete sorrow and anguish for the sadness that the Lord let me feel for him. this week, when we returned he was different, happier, and he even drew me a picture of Christ, telling me to keep preaching and smiling becasue Jesus loved me.  So…can the Holy Spirit bring FREEDOM? the answer to that is always yes.

 

Although there has been great progress,  the fight isn´t over yet. yesterday, as I praying, the Lord told me that there are still many evil rulers and authorities that reside in that rehab center, whispering lies into their thoughts. thoughts of unworthiness and inadequecy, thoughts of destruction and defeat. So we will continue to fight for them, continue to put on the armor, and use the Sword of the Spirirt, which is the word of God, to fight for their freedom. and we must always remember: JESUS IS ALWAYS VICTORIOUS. so we will  fight.