PROPHETIC MOMENTS - Pastor R. Loren Sandford

LIST OF HEALINGS SINCE END OF MAY

2008-08-21T01:09:17Z

Here is the full list of
REPORTED HEALINGS at
NEW SONG FELLOWSHIP, DENVER
since late May.
We hope you're encouraged! God is on the move!

THE FOLLOWING IS JUST A SAMPLING. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OTHER HEALINGS NOT REPORTED HERE.

5/20/08 Last Sunday a hearing impairment was healed spontaneously in the glory of God during worship. One of our musicians was experiencing growing pain and inflammation in her arm that made it exceedingly difficult even to hold up her instrument. Healed (Denise Detwiler). An arthritic foot was healed. At the close of service on Sunday night a young man with serious pain in his knees had experienced substantial improvement by the sovereign touch of God during worship and was receiving prayer for the completion of the healing.

This is all in addition to the two cases of nodules on lungs that were seen in CAT scans but that disappeared after prayer (Nicky Martin and a woman in Oregon we prayed for at a distance)- and the brother who received prayer for the kidney stones that were visible on a CAT scan. He was gowned up and prepped for surgery when he heard the doctors talking outside the door about the disappearing kidney stones that could no longer be seen in a CAT scan. He got dressed and went home (Mike Barnes).

5/20/08 Here's the quote from the email I received from Star Wiklund:
"I was recently in a car accient (march 29th 08) and got a severe case of whip-lash(on top of my other 43 medical conditions) I had severe pain and was on very strong pain patch's and pain pills and musle relaxers. I had phycical theapy 2 times a week. As of thursday I was still at pain level 8 and p/theapy 1 time a week. I went forward for healing. I just came from p/theapy and the doctor. I am healed the whip-lash is completely GONE!!
PRAISE GOD!!!!!! "

5/21/08 Trudy F. wrote:
"I have recently been dealing with RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis), This has been gong on for over 4 months now. God and his mighty power has now taken away a majority of the swelling that is a big part of it and there has been no pain for over 2 and a half days. I just wanted to let everyone know that God is present and wanting to heal all who is in need of healing. Please let this be a encouragement that it will happen." (This healing remains complete as I write 6/11/08. No pain. No meds.)

6/03/08 A word of knowledge was given during worship on Sunday morning concerning someone with an injury to the left arm that had not healed properly and was giving a lot of pain. Ron Olin came forward after the service to say that he had sustained an injury to his left elbow that had been refusing to heal over a long period of time and that had been causing a lot of pain. His pain was completely relieved and it remained healed by prayer time (People of Prayer) on Monday night. (This healing, as well remains as of 6/11/08).

Angela Joliff has had daily pain in her ears from infections for a number of years. God touched her powerfully during worship on Sunday night and the pain vanished. Monday morning she awoke to the absence of any pain for the first time in years and by Monday night she remained pain free.

Virginia Fishburn (did I spell her last name right?) has had arthritis in her left foot for a number of years, resulting in a deformity and preventing her even from working in her garden, much less dancing before the Lord. During People of Prayer on Monday night we soaked her foot in prayer. As the evening progressed, the swelling and size of the deformity visibly diminished and by evening's end she was able to jump up and down on that foot without pain for the first time (some pain recurs from time to time and we’re still praying as it gets better). Denise Detwiler received prayer two weeks ago for such severe pain in one arm that it nearly prevented her from being able to play her violin on the worship team. It had been building for weeks prior. After prayer on Sunday morning the pain vanished in an afternoon. She remains pain free.

6/8/08 Harriet Younger came to church Sunday morning with pain in every joint and was sovereignly healed and completely relieved of pain during worship.

This next is considerably more dramatic. Here's the quote from the email I received from Star Wiklund: "I want to report healing, today at church. As I know so many have been praying for healing for me for years now at New Song. Well the doctors did a upper & lower G.I. and I use to have: ulcers, I.B.S., (irritable bowel syndrome), upper reflux, coltis, diverticulitis, lower bowell sydrome.They could find no proof on any of the tests that these 6 yes SIX medical conditions are in my body." Doctor verified healing! It doesn't come much better than this!

6/10/08 This one is from Mark VanderStoep:
"At yesterday’s call for healing in joints, I remained at the back. When I saw the size of the response, I didn’t want to risk anything getting in the way of my responsibilities with the ushers/greeters. Nonetheless, I joined everyone in prayer. I have had a long history of knee problems, including bolts of pain that would literally put me down on the floor. Surgery some years ago only gave me temporary relief. During the prayer, I began testing my right knee (the main problem) and it seemed that the pain had lessened. I went out to the foyer and tried the stairs. I trotted up and down the stairs, without the use of the handrails and without pain! I grabbed Danny Hagen and Steve Horn and had to show them. Danny noticed there was even a difference in my walk. At the risk of being one 'of little faith', I tested it this morning. I’m using the stairs at work (we’re on the third floor) as easily as the stairs at church. I even did a deep knee bend! (At that point, I notice that I’m going to have to re-train some muscles.) I actually got a cramp…but no knee problem! I’m presently having to re-learn walking without a limp in addition to reconditioning some leg muscles. Incidentally…I’ve taken no pain medication today. I’m looking forward to being able to walk the golf courses! Jesus heals!"

6/11/08 From Inez Saragosa:
The healing that I received was two weeks ago at church - the 25th during worship. My knee injury was a result of two accidents that happened within the last 4 years. The first one was in Toronto. When I returned back from that trip I had to go through Physical Therapy and numerous tests because of the injury. That therapy didn’t work. The next one was when we were on one of the missions trips and I fell on that same knee again up in the canyon. They had to take me to the hospital in Chinlee where I not only mess my knee again, but I also sprained my foot bad. I have had a knee that locks and it feels like needles are in the knee, and if I would touch it in any way it hurts. When I would walk up and down stairs it would lock on me and was painful. Even at times when I rejoiced before the Lord it would hurt but I missed praising and worshipping God in that capacity so many times I would do it anyway and take the drugs afterwards. The Sunday that God healed my knee I was in the flow of the Holy Spirit while we were worshipping and I felt like a yo yo going up and down up and down. I was jumping continuously with not realizing what was going on. I realize that it didn’t hurt afterwards and I didn’t have to take any drugs when I got home or later on that night. I was quite surprised and said to myself, “I will see throughout the week what happens when I have to go up and down the stairs at home and at work.” On this past Sunday I got up was going to wash my hair in the sink and I decided to wash it in the main bathroom tub. I was hesitant at first because I knew I would have to kneel down and thought for a minute that I really can’t do that because of the pain in my knee when I kneel. I remember hearing from the Lakeland meetings try something that you haven’t done in a long time. I decided to kneel there was no pain. Was worshipping jumping up and down and dancing on Sunday no pain. I can bend my knee no pain. Going up and down the stairs no pain. Three weeks free of no pain. Thank you Jesus

6/15/08 From Rae Ellis
Rae had a seriously enlarged lymph node in her neck. A word was giving during worship that God was moving to heal and that if anyone felt anything going on in a problem area in their body (heat, tingling, a touch, etc.), they should simply receive it as the Spirit of God moving to heal. Rae's lymph node shrank to near nothing. God heals sovereignly!

6/15/08 From Marci
( and whose last name I can never remember) has suffered from epilepsy all her life. Seizures have come frequently and strongly. After having a seizure in church a couple of months ago, members of our ministry team prayed for her healing. For the first time, she has been free of seizures for now two months.

From Rich Gianzero
This one comes from two years ago, but it's worth reporting because it speaks to where we're going with our children. Children can minister in the same power as can adults and this one proves it! We are currently working to bring our children more deeply into supernatural ministry, teaching them what Jesus has given them and showing them how and where to use it. Rich Gianzero had a bad back that had given him trouble for years and for which he could find no relief. Periodically we bring the children into the adult service to pray healing for the adults. On one of those Sundays, the children prayed for Rich's back and he has been free of any pain for now two years!

6/15/08 From Julie O'Hearn
There was a spot/mole on my left shoulder that has recently changed color and size. Have been praying about it and was still trying to decide if I needed to have it checked by my doctor. Sunday morning I decided I didn't need to KNOW what it was, I only needed to know that God is my Healer and since it was causing anxiety and fear, I could go to Him and have it gone. I went forward and Harriet graciously prayed for me. It felt like an electrical shock went through my shoulder and the anointing went all the way down my left side. (That "tingling" sensation went on for most of the afternoon) I knew, that I knew, that I knew I was healed. I avoided even checking it out for a couple of days. I looked at it yesterday and showed it to Dennis as well. It has gotten smaller and is no longer a weird color. The devil is such a chump.......

6/18/08 From Tracy Fischer
I had fallen 3 weeks ago and my leg was out of whack. I walked with a limp and was very worried as it was still very sore to the touch. If it lasted any longer I was going to have to go in for physical therapy. During worship God said if I reached out to him, he would heal me. That was the day you called ministry time for joints. I was so focused on my hand arthritis I did not even think about my leg. After several days I was walking around and realized I had no pain or limp. My ankle bones did not even crack when I walk as they normally do (even before the fall). Yesterday I even took a bike spinning class and walked on the treadmill for a mile. He healed my leg when I did not even consciously ask for it and it was sovereignly done during worship.

6/19/08 From Tim Coffman
I had been told I had high blood pressure about six weeks ago. It had been checked a few times with the same result. I was at the service when you felt to pray for people who had high blood pressure. I went to a clinic. They checked my blood pressure and it had a good reading. I asked them about it (I don't understand the numbers), and they again stressed that my blood pressure was very good.

6/8/08 From Star Wiklund
This healing of arthritis was on 6/8/08. Her name is Anita. She came to our church as a guest of mine. She also came the next week and received even more healing. She has suffered from this physical problem for many years.

6/22/08 From Anna Berlin
Yesterday (Saturday), on the way home from the Ministry Training, my vision in my left eye cleared perceptively! Vision still blurry, but less so. I do believe that the cornea is now healed, the iris less sensitive to light, so now all I need is a new lens! Piece of cake for our Lord, yes? Thank you, Jesus! (Anna has had multiple surgeries on her eyes. Some healings come in stages. This is one where we see progress, and we will continue praying until it's finished!)

6/29/08 From Devin Wanberg
Devin has suffered from scoliosis of the spine for most of his life. This was aggravated severely by a car accident. Over recent months the severe pain nearly overwhelmed him. During worship Sunday night 6/29, Pastor Loren heard the Lord say to tell Devin, “This is your night to be healed,” and subsequently called Devin forward to receive prayer. Instead Devin came directly to Pastor Loren as he played guitar and sang and told him that he had been healed of 95% of his pain just five minutes earlier. For the first time in a long time Devin was able to spend the night dancing and leaping before the Lord.

6/29/08 From Marci
Marci reported on Sunday that she had been healed of her asthma. How long? “The whole month of June,” she said. How often did it affect you? “All the time.” And in all that time you haven’t suffered an attack? “Nope!”

6/29/08 From Virginia Fishburn
Virginia’s father suffered from a very painful arthritic spine. He received prayer at New Song and has been completely free of pain for the first time for several weeks now.

6/29/08 From Patricia Sheffield
On 6/22 a word of knowledge was given during worship concerning some kind of jury to the right side of someone’s neck. Patricia had been in process of moving her belongings from one home to another when she picked up a heavy object and suffered a very painful injury her neck. Patricia is in her ‘70s. God sovereignly healed her during worship that day.

6/29/08 From Mike Pike
Mike was suffering from an injury to his chest that caused a lot of pain and prevented him from doing any kind of push-ups or other movement that involved his chest. While on our youth mission trip to southern California, God completely healed the injury. No pain. Four other significant healings happened on that trip to others who went.

7/13/08
From Pat Crom: Pat had pain in her hips such that she could not sleep well at night and definitely not when she turned on her side. She felt the touch of God during worship and the pain left her. We often suggest waiting a few days to report such a healing in order to be certain it's real and remains. After two weeks Pat reports that she remains pain free.

From Donna Leonardson: As a result of an accident three years ago Donna suffered nerve damage to her right leg. This caused such pain that it prevented her from sleeping at night. Painkillers had no effect. In addition, a year and half ago she irritated the bursa in her hip. It would flair up when she would sit on hard surfaces and at other times. Two members of our ministry team prayed for her and all the pain vanished. She has been three weeks pain free.

From Julie Brown: I'm quoting excerpts from an email Julie sent me. "My sister-in-law emailed a bunch of our family about her grown daughter from a previous marriage who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I prayed very focused-ly for her for a couple of days and promptly forgot about it. her daughter went to a specialist with her test results and the pictures of the cancer and the specialist did more tests and took more pictures and could not find anything. The doctors say they know for a fact it was there two weeks ago, and can't explain how it disappeared!!!!!!!!"

From Virginia Fishburn: Earlier we reported a healing of the arthritis Virginia suffered in her left foot. We reported how the pain had vanished and she had been able to dance once more. The arthritis had produced a deformity in her foot. We've been praying for that deformity to be healed in addition to the pain relief. We are happy to report that what once was the size of a golf ball has been reduced to the size of a marble. We'll keep praying until it vanishes altogether.

NOTE: While we are grateful for the healing God is sending into our midst, God tells us that these "little" miracles have been only a rehearsal. As of Sunday night 7/13/08 we are praying for a step up into the big stuff! For instance, Beth and I will will visit the hospital today to pray for a newborn who needs a new heart. We'd rather see God implant a new one than let the surgeons do it, and so we're asking. God, give us faith and the anointing for the creative miracles! New spines! New arms or legs! New hearts! And more!

From Veronica Taylor, 7/27/08:
I, Pastor Loren, had just started our announcement video running when Veronica called me over. She was sitting directly in front of one of our floor mounted PA speakers with the sound blasting at her back. She told me she had had a deaf ear, but that it had been getting getting better, and she wanted me to pray for her for more. I did so, then whispered in her bad ear while the sound kept blaring at her from just foot behind her. I asked if she could hear my whisper. She could!

Many of the healings we have been experiencing have been sovereign touches. God has simply done it, without the usual laying on of hands or other direct human agency. The following appears to be one of them.
From Ray Saragosa, 7/27/08:
My right foot has been turning more and more to the right with the bone below my big toe sticking out more and more with an increase in pain, even if I barely touched it. This was effecting everything - my ability to ski, dance, walk etc. When I went to my foot doctor for orthotics and shots in the foot he said the only thing they could do for the deformity that was increasing was surgery and that there was no guarantee and that it would in all likelihood only grow worse. Since the healing revival broke out in Lakeland I didn't even notice until all of a sudden I was massaging my foot and the pain was gone and I told Inez (wife) and she looked at my foot and excitedly responded that my foot was also straightening out. God in his sovereignty has healed it and is straightening out what was crooked or making that which was crooked straight.

From Lisa Adian 8/1/08: During a repentance ceremony Holy Spirit cleansed me and broke Tourette’s Disease and Huntington’s Chorea. Having no health insurance, plus there is nothing any doctor could of for it either. Pastor Sandford had us in tears, then peace. The next day for the first time in over 50 years I was able to speak calmly and clearly and could walk without painful falls! I could not actually anticipate when my brain would misfire and embarrassing falls would happen. I endured feeling like a human sparkler. Now I have hope and His deep peace! It makes all the difference in the world and I am so deeply grateful for all here at this special peaceful life force of the Holy Spirit and the generous people who prayed over me, took me into their homes loved me.

From Linda Helm 8/5/08: Jennifer, the gal you baptized a week ago, she got prayer for ovarian pain three weeks ago. She's had polycystic ovaries and had one burst, and had to have surgery a few months ago. Because of all her cysts, she has been in constant pain for several years, always getting worse during her periods. She was on her period when she received prayer. The pain stopped during that prayer. Her period stopped, and she has not had any pain at ALL for the last three and a half weeks. So the next week, if she has no pain at all, we will know it's a bonafide healing. She's considering asking her doctors to do another ultrasound as proof of the healing and as a witness to her doctors. Thought you'd like to know. She gave me permission to tell you about this, and to use it if you want.

We'll follow up that last one and post an update. We value integrity greatly and wish to make no claims that cannot be substantiated. This is why we publish names and dates. If anyone would care to verify any healing you see published in these letters or on our website you can call our office (303-430-8100) and we'll put you in touch with the name on the testimony you wish to know about. The only one we can't provide is Lisa's. Lisa was homeless and was with us for the first time the Sunday she received her healing. We have no current contact information since she moved on.

Here's the update we promised on Jennifer. She's Jennifer Coffee. She reports (August 12 or so) that she just had her period and all she had was normal cramping, which was alleviated with ibuprofen. Nothing would have helped the kind of pain she used to have.

From Linda Helm 8/20/08: (We've prayed her back to be healed on a number of occasions. She hasn't been able to sleep in a bed for years because of pain her back.) I wanted to let you know that God really has been healing my back. I have been able to sleep on the couch for nearly three weeks and wake up without any pain at all. Plus I am able to sit and not have any pain from that either. It's just major progress. Thanks for praying for me!

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PROPHETIC MOMENTS - Pastor R. Loren Sandford

2008-08-19T02:43:56Z

Issue #11 - August 18, 2008

WHEN LEADERS FALL

We’re living in a time when God is so serious about His character imprinted into us for the honor of His name, that while He often uses seriously flawed people to accomplish His purposes, there is nothing hidden in any leader's heart or life that will not be exposed. Luke 12:2-3, "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."

Yes, God pours out His grace in forgiveness, but we must never forget that God’s holiness must be honored and that He does act for the sake of His own name. As God entrusts us with more power and more glory, accountability for character issues rises. As we cry MORE LORD, God answers by asking more of us because we’ve been given more. Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."

God may not make perfection a requirement for wielding the gift of His mercy and His power, but with the blessing of His mercy and power comes responsibility and accountability to grow in looking like Jesus, being like Jesus, acting and living like a people set apart, different from the world. We MUST grow in His ways.

Many of us are currently grieving deeply over the failure of Todd Bentley's marriage (leader of the Lakeland Outpouring) and his inappropriate emotional relationship with a female staff member. I am praying that there will ultimately be full disclosure of all that has been amiss in his life. I’m praying for the fathers in the faith who have come around him to help him through this and that one day he will be able stand before us all and disclose everything with a broken and repentant heart. I am praying that his ministry will be restored with more power and wholeness than before.

Full disclosure must come because sin, especially in a leader, opens a wound in the body of Christ that can only be healed with full disclosure. I know as a pastor of a flock that if I were to fall into sin, it would open a wound in all of my people. Trust would be breached. This wound Todd has opened needs healing. It needs to happen both for Todd and his wife and for us.

But nothing can be healed that remains hidden. Until full disclosure happens people will instinctively feel that something is off or wrong. This is part of why so much criticism was and is aimed at the Lakeland Revival. There have been the usual vicious, religious-spirited critics whom I dismiss out of hand, but there were many lovers of revival who sensed something wrong that was hidden and has now come to light.

Disclosure must be full and complete. If exposure and repentance have been only partial in the case of a leader who has fallen, then there remains cause for continuing accusation. The ministry is weakened. The rift continues. The wound remains only partially sealed.

We live in a time when our national Christian leaders are bringing dishonor to the Lord’s name with distressing frequency. A chief cause has been that we as believers have hungered for the wrong things and lost our focus. We must hunger more deeply for holiness, purity and intimacy with God than we do for power, glory, miracles and manifestations. We’ve been out of whack and now we pay the price for our lack of attention to character and wholeness.

Does a move of God through someone’s ministry indicate that the person is holy and above reproach? Or moral? NO. Does God use unrighteous men or men with serious character flaws? YES. Why does God choose to pour out His healing mercy and power through such flawed vessels? Because of His love for those who receive what these men and women have to give. God responds to the need of His people and will not hold His mercy hostage to the condition of the man on the stage. In Lakeland God responded to the hunger and desperation in thousands of people the world over, in spite of fatal flaws in its leader.

Look at Samson in the book of Judges. God used him to deliver Israel from enemies that were stronger than they, but here was a man who couldn’t keep his pants zipped and kept making bad choices where women were concerned until he met Delilah. His weakness for her left him shorn of his hair, his strength, his eyesight and his freedom. No matter who you are, immorality reaps destruction.

God does place a greater weight of responsibility on those who lead. It’s a responsibility to walk with God, to be like Him in a way that people want to follow. THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE NOT MINIMIZE THE SEVERITY AND THE TRAGEDY OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN LAKELAND. To do so cheats those who have been so wounded by this and leaves the door open for more leadership failures in the name of compassion and mercy. Full forgiveness and mercy can only be granted when the full gravity of the trespass has been faced. Wounds heal only superficially when we fail to adequately assess the severity of the damage.

Because of their impact on others, highly placed leaders more than anyone else must pursue holiness. Hebrews 12:14-15 commands us to, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." Sanctification means holiness, to become as God is in your character.

Without that character transformation no one will, “see God.” We won't experience Him truly or fully, or enter into His intimate counsel. We will miss the real revelation of who He is as sin distorts our vision. It’s actually possible to hear God without knowing Him or truly experiencing Him. We can minister His power but never really see Him.

And it would seem that having mystical experiences of angels and heavenly visions is no indicator that anyone has become like Him. One of the most mystical people I ever knew was Paul Cain, and yet he fell into acloholism and homosexuality. Todd Bentley has had many mystical experiences with God, but has been headed for this train wreck for a long time.

Along these lines Jesus warned in Matthew 7:22-23, "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" I’m NOT saying that Paul Cain or Todd Bentley are going to hell (they're not), but the Scripture does speak of people who minister power in the name of Jesus without a whole relationship with Him. A whole relationship with Jesus results in righteousness that flows from the inside out, obedience to God that begins with a heart that has absorbed His own character. A ministry of power does not constitute evidence of holiness or godliness. It never has. Look at Samson. God comes for love of the people and often will not be held back by the condition of the man who leads.

Nevertheless, God calls us who lead to a higher standard.
I Timothy 3:1-7, "It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Why all this? So that God’s name will not be smeared. When David fell with Bathsheba and killed her husband Uriah, Nathan the prophet confronted him with his sin. II Samuel 12:13-14, "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' And Nathan said to David, 'The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.'"

Don’t focus on the dying child or you’ll miss the point. The issue is that sin gives occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Right now the world looks at the debacle of our falling leaders and cries, "Oh look! The charismatics have made fools of themselves again!" Sad reality!

God forgave David, but an issue remained. “You have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord…” When you and I sin, and especially leadership, it’s never a private thing. It’s about the honor of the Lord, our church, our brothers and sisters. It’s about the wider impact. It affects us all, weakens us all and discredits us all.

In the 1980s it was Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart. Recently, it’s been the Bynums, Ted Haggard and others. Now Todd Bentley. And the world says, "Where is the power of the gospel if your leaders can’t walk the walk?" The witness of every believer in our culture is compromised. “You have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord…” That’s the issue. God forgives, but the damage is done. And it doesn’t make any difference whether the sin exposed is the superstar’s or yours. It’s only a matter of how many are affected by it, but someone will be.

When someone that you look up to or someone who walks in the power falls, betrays or abuses, what happens? We feel let down, betrayed, reluctant to trust again. In the 80’s when Baker and Swaggart fell, donations to churches and ministries dropped across the country. Every Christian ministry felt the impact and paid the price. To this day many in the world accuse us of wanting only their money.

This is why we’re so urgently being called to holiness just now. When we fall, no one outside our Christian circles remembers the glory. They remember only the failure. And that failure is taken as permission to sin by multitudes of immature believers. SIN IN LEADERSHIP MUST NOT BE MINIMIZED but faced for what it is, even as we forgive.

God's mercy includes discipline. Abraham illegally fathered Ishmael by Hagar, Sarah's maid when he could wait no longer for the son of promise. It split his family. Hagar and Ishmael had to be driven out and to this day Israel battles Ishmael. Consequences! God forgave David, but the child of his union with Bathsheba died! Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." God forgives, but discipline comes.

Jim Baker magnificently repented, paid for his crimes in prison and wrote a book about it. I’m proud of him for the humility that came to his heart and how he humbly apologized to the body of Christ. But his ministry was never again the same and no one can take away the damage that was done to ministries whose giving declined because of the mistrust Jim sowed.

So we’re being called to a higher standard these days as God pours out His power, not because we have a religious and punishing God who loves to get down on us, but for the sake of the honor of the Lord and love for His people and because much more is at stake these days. If we’re going to wield His power for signs and wonders we’re going to attract a lot of attention. Some of that attention will turn into close examination. We need for our sake and for the Lord’s sake to be above reproach when that examination comes. God’s honor is at stake.

We’re being called to a higher standard because God protects His own holiness even as He loves us, He will expose every sin, every unrighteousness, in order to cleanse us for our own good and for His own vindication. We each have a choice. We can choose confession, expose it ourselves, repent and seek to be clean and holy, pleading for the nature and character of Jesus to completely own us, OR we can hide the sin and be exposed by God in a more public way.

There’s a curious line in John 3:19-21 coming after the promise of eternal life for those who believe. "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." The choice.

We leaders need to take the lead in exposing our sins to the light, asking forgiveness of the body of Christ for our mistakes and failures. Over the years I've stood before my own people on a number of occasions to humble myself, confess my sin and ask their forgiveness when my arrogance or failures of character impacted them negatively. I pray the same grace for Todd in this hour for his sake and that of the whole body of Christ. That kind of open confession can go a long way toward healing the broken hearts in God’s people and the disillusionment that comes to the body of Christ when a leader falls.

How shall we respond to Todd’s failure? Fully face the magnitude of the tragedy and the damage done, but then move to Galatians 6:1-2, "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."

Most of us will never be in a position to minister to Todd except to pray at a distance. But John Arnott is. Bill Johnson is. Che Ahn is. These men are fathers in the faith and in revival, men who have a relationship with Todd. Pray for them and for the tasks they must now perform on Todd's behalf. And carry the burden of this precious young man in your own heart. Feel it and let it bind you to compassionate prayer.

God didn’t throw David away when he sinned. There was discipline and there were consequences, but David remained king and fulfilled his destiny. Same with Abraham. It will be the same for you and me when we fail and for our brother Todd as well. God doesn’t throw us away because we fell or made mistakes. He forgives. He heals. He restores. And our destiny awaits us, even in our failure, just as it did for Abraham and for David.

(Prophetic Moments is an occasional bulletin produced by Pastor R. Loren Sandford, New Song Fellowship, Denver, Colorado. For previous issues click HERE.)

Books by PASTOR R. LOREN SANDFORD. Click an image to visit our bookstore.

Other books by Pastor R. Loren Sandford available in our bookstore:
"Burnout: Renewal in the Wilderness"
"Prophetic Worship"

As well as books by John and Paula Sandford.

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PROPHETIC MOMENTS - "Toward a Real Revival"

2008-08-12T01:50:35Z

Issue #10 - August 11, 2008

TOWARD A GENUINE REVIVAL

Pardon me for the length of this word. It's basically a transcription of the notes from a sermon I preached at home on 8/10/08. I feel so strongly concerning the issues raised that I believe it needed to be put in writing and posted here, even at the risk of offending some.

I’ve been troubled in my spirit for months now concerning revival. Something is wrong in the revival stream. I’ve not been able to put my finger on what is wrong exactly, but I’ve settled on a few things.

Having said that much, know that I’m NOT saying that anything going on is false. God is moving really and truly. I’m saying that something is wrong and much is missing.

Here are four simple biblical elements that must be present in balance for there to be a foundation for real revival. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 2:3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

So the first element is that God shows up “out of the box” in power. This includes observable physical manifestations of His presence. At such times God often does things for which there is no precedent, like tongues. Peter preached that the outpouring on the day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of Joel 2:28ff., but that passage speaks only of the Spirit being poured out in dreams and visions. It says nothing of the gift of tongues. The gift of tongues has no precedent in any Old Testament passage. God acted “out of the box”.

Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified."
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

The first word out of Peter’s mouth when the people asked, “What shall we do?” was repent. So the second element essential to genuine revival is deep and brokenhearted repentance in response to God.

Acts 2:44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
2:45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart

The third element essential to real revival is therefore that love, fellowship, and covenant bonds form. This speaks to the centrality of the local church in the plan of God. Instantly, the focus was not on the thousands gathered, although they remained faithful to meet as a large group in the temple. The focus fell upon walking it out together, house to house in covenant love.

Acts 2:43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

The fourth element is that God announces His presence and expresses His love with wonders and signs. In the days following the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost the lame beggar at the gate of the temple in Acts 3 received healing. There were so many healings that Acts 5:15 says, they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

The byproduct or result of all of this is Acts 2:47 …And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. The church grows. THAT IS BIBLE REVIVAL.

Today the focus has become skewed. The stream isn’t pure. Much is happening but it’s incomplete and unbalanced. But before I go any farther, let me be clear. I’m not saying that anything going on now is false or that it isn’t God. I’m saying that much is unbalanced and incomplete and that it isn’t the BIG ONE.

I’m saying that we must be careful lest we miss the big one when it comes because it may not look much like what we’re seeing now. It won’t be the big meetings in regional centers. It will be centered in the local churches, and not around mega-stars. It will be fueled by the gifts of everyday believers and Jesus will get the glory, not the mega-ministries. And because of that it will reach many more people than any large national para-church ministry ever could.

There is another move of God coming after what’s going on now that will be pure, balanced and complete. In every way it will be the real thing and we’re going to have to be discerning enough to see it and flow with it. But there will first come a disillusionment with what is currently practiced. It has already begun. People I have known for much of my life who have championed revival are quietly not getting on board or are registering their disagreement with certain things in their writings. They are holding back, sensing something not quite right. We must pray that a growing sense of disillusionment doesn’t turn people off to the real thing when it comes.

So here are some of the issues. First, where is repentance and the cross these days? By His stripes we’re healed and at the cross He took our infirmities (Isaiah 53). The first word out of Peter’s mouth in Acts 2 when the people asked him what shall we do was “repent”. And repentance was the prerequisite for receiving the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Every revival that ever impacted this country in a way that transformed our society had at its center the cross, the blood of Jesus and repentance. It seems to me that our focus today is not on repentance and righteousness, but on power and on signs and wonders. Every once in a while we nod politely in the direction of the cross almost as an afterthought and mutter, “Oh yeah. It’s the cross. We should repent.” And then we move quickly on to something more appealing than the broken heart and the contrite spirit.

Second, as we focus on power, signs and wonders and healing, where is the biblical plumb line for much of what is said, taught and practiced? The apostle wrote, I Corinthians 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

There is no new truth apart from Scripture. There is no special revelation. No practice in ministry, doctrine of healing or deliverance or any other thing stands exempt from testing by a biblical standard. Anointing and the presence of God do not give us permission to move beyond anything written for us in the Word of God.

But I see us in revival circles gradually moving toward exalting experience as the measure of truth rather than the unchanging Word of God. So, third, I see an off balance focus on power and experience. I have actually heard major leaders say that we are living in a post-biblical age when God is moving in such a way that we don’t have to be bound to Scripture in our ministries, our practices and our methods.

And so it becomes all right to push people down, or knee them in the stomach when they have 4th stage colon cancer (and for those who saw it on TV, the man was NOT healed) or body slam them to the floor. We don’t question making people run laps around the sanctuary to contend for their healing. Where did Jesus ever tell anyone to contend for his/her healing? Or we tell people to confess that they've been healed when in fact they have not been healed. Where did Jesus ever tell anyone to do anything like that?

We think it’s all right to do these things if we believe that’s what God is saying or if it seems that it “works” and if the anointing continues. We just accept it because there’s anointing in the room. But Jesus never did any of those things. Experience rather than the word of God has become the measure, the validation, the test of what is true and right.

On this basis it becomes all right to speak of being caught up to the third heaven as so many prophets do today - and to tell everyone what we saw and experienced there in spite of II Corinthians 12:2-4, I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. Illegal! Paul was so uncomfortable with saying anything about that experience that he didn’t even want at first to identify himself as the one he was speaking of. But today we speak of third heaven experiences openly on international TV.

It’s wrong. Our culture teaches us that if we’ve experienced something it must be true, but each step we take in the direction of exalting experience above the truth of the Word of God moves us farther from the sure foundation and closer to shipwreck.

It seems that if we hear teaching that doesn’t line up with the word of God and if it comes out in the context of a genuine visitation of the Holy Spirit then we believe the false teaching must be true because we had an experience. But the Word of God is our plumb line, not experience.

In the real, complete and balanced revival that’s yet to come we’re going to have to test experience by the Word of God, define experience by the Scripture and know what is true and right by that test. We’re called to I John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

I Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 1:21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

II Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. Peter warned against distorting what is written in Paul’s letters and says that destruction results from this distortion. There’s a lot of distortion going on these days to justify things that don’t stand the test of Scripture
3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness… Key phrase, don’t be carried away. God wants us to receive revival. He wants us to receive His wonders, but we don’t have to throw our brains on the table to do it.
3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The church in Corinth was arguably the most anointed church in the New Testament. They had it all. The gifts were in flowing in power – tongues, healing, prophecy and more - even while they abused what God was giving them. They began exalting one above another on the basis of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that various ones of them moved in. Pride had taken root. Hero worship had taken root based on the gifts certain ones exercised. There were perceived haves and perceived have-nots. They had begun to worship and exalt spiritual superstars in their midst.

They thought, as we tend to today, that their imbalance was validated by the Lord’s continuing presence and the exercise of His power, but their imbalances and abuses drew some stinging rebukes from the apostle Paul. They thought, “God is showing up so what we’re doing must be right.” WRONG.

And so Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13:1-3, If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. If we read this as Paul meant it to be received in its context, it must be received as a backhanded slap in the face bordering on insult.

Go back to Acts 2 and see the love taking root in that first church. The Holy Spirit fell and the first thing they did after they repented was to begin to nurture relationships. Love. Covenant bonds. Being together. Meeting in one another’s homes. Sacrificing for one another. Until that happens, it’s not revival. It’s an empty shell. Just a lot of noise.

In Corinth they had the power and the signs and wonders but no grounding in love or in Scripture and so sin and immorality crept in, just like today. Paul had to rebuke them sternly for tolerating the presence of a man in their midst who was sleeping with his father’s wife and would not repent. I Corinthians 5:2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

In the second half of chapter 6 he had to rebuke them for other forms of sexual immorality and in the first half of that chapter for taking one another to court. They had power without love and they had signs and wonders without a grounding in the Word of God. The result was unrighteousness and immorality of every kind. Just like our culture now – and for the same reasons.

In that kind of atmosphere there was no consciousness of a need to repent - just like in our culture today. Without repentance there is no character of Jesus imprinted into average believers and without the character of Jesus there may be power, but there will be no revelation of the true nature of the righteous God of heaven and His love that passes our understanding. And so our leaders fall into sin and our critics have a field day pointing the finger. We are too much the church in Corinth and not enough the church in Acts.

If we will seek holiness God will give us power and experience. But if we seek power we may miss holiness. Disaster will result.

My fourth issue is that right now there’s a fascination with extended nightly meetings in a region. The thinking is that such meetings will spark revival in local churches. Again WRONG and again unbiblical.

Steve Strader pastors Ignited Church where the Lakeland Revival began. He is still regarded as the host pastor. On August 3 the revival left the 10,000 seat tent and returned to the 700 seat sanctuary at Ignited. In the second week of August as Steve led the meeting, he made an appeal. He stated that since the revival had begun his people had scattered. His next words tore at my heart as he cried out to his own flock, “Please, come home.” The effect of the Lakeland Revival on local churches has been negligible and in some cases destructive. Extended meetings in a central location draw people and resources out of the local church – and God’s plan has always been the local church.

When the Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost they didn’t enter into extended meetings in a central location led by a star. They began nurturing covenant bonds between people, meeting from house to house and developing relational love. The church grew exponentially as a result.

If we have all the power without the relationships, the love and the covenant bonds then we have nothing. Just noise. God wants a people who in their covenant bonds are patient, kind, not arrogant, not selfish, not provoked, completely forgiving, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things and enduring all things for one another (I Corinthians 13).

When that happens and there’s power and the presence of God, it’s revival. Until that happens it’s just a man on a stage working his gifts on an audience. Or it’s just God pouring out an invitation with power, but we’re not really hearing.

It’s not about the man on the stage. It’s about Jesus. It’s not about the anointed leader. It’s about YOUR gifts and YOUR service, the power of the kingdom of God given to YOU. Read I Corinthians 12, to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. And it’s about the love that takes root in YOUR heart as real revival draws you into the character of Jesus. It’s not really revival until you’ve absorbed the nature and character of Jesus, until you love as He loves and live as He lived. Until then it’s just the noisy gong or the clanging cymbal.

And so past revivals filled up and strengthened the churches. The New Testament is all about strengthening the local church. That’s the focus. That’s why Paul wrote his letters that became the bulk of our New Testament.

So, can we cherish what God is doing, but test men’s use of it by the Word? Can we long for and pray for the BIG one, balanced and solidly rooted in God’s principles? Can we build a I Corinthians 13 church soaked in love and ready to be a vessel to receive that kind of presence and power from God? Will each of us receive, honor and use our gifts of the Spirit to minister power in this world?

(Prophetic Moments is an occasional bulletin produced by Pastor R. Loren Sandford, New Song Fellowship, Denver, Colorado. For previous issues click HERE.)

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Two more healings....

2008-08-06T22:38:39Z

Hi folks!

God continues to show up in glory and perform His works at New Song. Here are two more reports.

From Lisa Adian 8/1/08: During a repentance ceremony Holy Spirit cleansed me and broke Tourette�s Disease and Huntington�s Chorea. Having no health insurance, plus there is nothing any doctor could of for it either. Pastor Sandford had us in tears, then peace. The next day for the first time in over 50 years I was able to speak calmly and clearly and could walk without painful falls! I could not actually anticipate when my brain would misfire and embarrassing falls would happen. I endured feeling like a human sparkler. Now I have hope and His deep peace! It makes all the difference in the world and I am so deeply grateful for all here at this special peaceful life force of the Holy Spirit and the generous people who prayed over me, took me into their homes loved me.

From Linda Helm 8/5/08: Jennifer, the gal you baptized a week ago, she got prayer for ovarian pain three weeks ago. She's had polycystic ovaries and had one burst, and had to have surgery a few months ago. Because of all her cysts, she has been in constant pain for several years, always getting worse during her periods. She was on her period when she received prayer. The pain stopped during that prayer. Her period stopped, and she has not had any pain at ALL for the last three and a half weeks. So the next week, if she has no pain at all, we will know it's a bonafide healing. She's considering asking her doctors to do another ultrasound as proof of the healing and as a witness to her doctors. Thought you'd like to know. She gave me permission to tell you about this, and to use it if you want.

We'll follow up that last one and post an update. We value integrity greatly and wish to make no claims that cannot be substantiated. This is why we publish names and dates. If anyone would care to verify any healing you see published in these letters or on our website you can call our office (303-430-8100) and we'll put you in touch with the name on the testimony you wish to know about. The only one we can't provide is Lisa's. Lisa was homeless and was with us for the first time the Sunday she received her healing. We have no current contact information since she moved on. For a complete list of the healings we have seen at New Song since the end of May, click HERE.

God bless,
Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship
Denver, Colorado

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More healing reports!

2008-07-31T02:11:14Z

Hi Folks,

This most recent week at New Song was a kind of a pause in the progression of healings while we were confronted with our need to fear God and act accordingly. It became a day for strong repentance. You can hear the message in streaming audio by clicking HERE. It's available on CD through our online bookstore as well.

Nevertheless, there were two significant healing reports.

From Veronica Taylor, 7/27/08:
I, Pastor Loren, had just started our announcement video running when Veronica called me over. She was sitting directly in front of one of our floor mounted PA speakers with the sound blasting at her back. She told me she had had a deaf ear, but that it had been getting getting better, and she wanted me to pray for her for more. I did so, then whispered in her bad ear while the sound kept blaring at her from just a foot behind her. I asked if she could hear my whisper. She could!

Many of the healings we have been experiencing have been sovereign touches. God has simply done it, without the usual laying on of hands or other direct human agency. The following appears to be one of them.
From Ray Saragosa, 7/27/08:
My right foot has been turning more and more to the right with the bone below my big toe sticking out more and more with an increase in pain, even if I barely touched it. This was effecting everything - my ability to ski, dance, walk etc. When I went to my foot doctor for orthotics and shots in the foot he said the only thing they could do for the deformity that was increasing was surgery and that there was no guarantee and that it would in all likelihood only grow worse. Since the healing revival broke out in Lakeland I didn't even notice until all of a sudden I was massaging my foot and the pain was gone and I told Inez (wife) and she looked at my foot and excitedly responded that my foot was also straightening out. God in his sovereignty has healed it and is straightening out what was crooked or making that which was crooked straight.

More precious than any of the healings at New Song in recent days has been the wonderful presence of God in worship, deep, powerful and refreshing. He's about new things!

God bless,
Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship, Denver

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PROPHETIC MOMENTS - Pastor R. Loren Sandford Message

2008-07-29T18:12:12Z

Issue #9 - July 29, 2008

MORE ON THE LAKELAND, FLORIDA OUTPOURING

The following in italics is a quote from the first chapter of my new book, "The Prophetic Church: Wielding the Power to Change the World" (Chosen Books) due to be released in February, 2009. I believe that the growing healing revival under Todd Bentley in Lakeland, Florida, in progress as I write may be an answer to the fervent prayer and repentance so many of us have offered up. The outpouring in Lakeland, though controversial, has served as a kind of igniter for piles of spiritual fuel the Lord has been storing up across the Western world for decades. God has been preparing pockets of hungry saints to receive. He has given us tools for ministry in inner healing, the Father’s love, prophetic ministry, evangelism and more. These deposits are now bursting into flame.

Recently I have been made aware of a growing chorus of concerns surrounding the Lakeland Outpouring and Todd Bentley, its leader. Concerns range from issues of questionable doctrine to accusations of occult practice, and they are being raised by men who have been friends and champions of revival for many years. I have therefore been compelled to examine the issues raised. I've wrestled with their implications and tried to sort it all out prayerfully. I have come to the conclusion that, for all the flaws, I can with integrity stand by the statement I quoted above. There is good and bad, glory and flesh in the Lakeland Outpouring, but God is using it to serve His purposes in the earth.

I am not one to throw his brains on the table just because God seems to be moving. I don't believe God ever exempts us from the command to test the spirits to see if they are from God (I John 4:1) or to "judge" the words of anyone claiming, "God told me" (I Corinthians 14:29). To fail to test and judge would be foolish at best and dangerous at worst. We can and we must obey these commands in love without being Pharisees, heresy hunters or obnoxious revival critics.

I don't believe God has given it to me to publicly point out the failings of the Lakeland Outpouring or to openly specifiy the unbiblical teachings that I have heard Todd articulate. Others have done so capably and extensively, some in love and some with less than love. You can find it all over the internet with a simple word search.

I do believe it is my role to prophetically call for prayer in at least two areas. First, success is almost always toxic. Few things drive us off balance into pride and flesh faster than escalating fame and notoriety. The leaders of the Lakeland Outpouring are largely young, which adds to the vulnerability. Pray for the Lord's hand of protection and correction.

Second, pray for those who have come alongside to be spiritual fathers to Todd Bentley. Pray that their fathering role does not get buried under any degree of awe brought on by the anointing or the scope of the impact this outpouring has had. Blind acceptance leads to shipwreck as surely as does blind rejection. Four decades ago Lonnie Frisbee sparked the Jesus movement and then lit the fire that burned in the Vineyard and touched the world with its power. He, too, was young, but the fathers who should have stood with him to love and train him abandoned him when his struggles with homosexuality began to surface. A great opportunity was lost. Recently, men the likes of Che Ahn, John Arnott and Bill Johnson, among others, stood to provide apostolic covering for Todd. Pray that they do for Todd what was not done for Lonnie. Pray that they can and will faithfully speak wisdom and correction into Todd's life and ministry, even as they offer blessing.

Finally, in testing and weighing what comes out of the Lakeland Outpouring, it would be as unwise to label it all as of the devil as it would be to say it's all good. People are involved. Flesh and error are therefore inevitable. Mixed in with the anointing are things that need correction. I personally will not therefore simply jump on the bandwagon with my eyes closed. Neither will I stand as a critic and say that it's all wrong because of a set of troubling issues that have surfaced and will become more public in days to come.

We owe God and we owe our brother Todd a better deal than that.

(Prophetic Moments is an occasional bulletin produced by Pastor R. Loren Sandford, New Song Fellowship, Denver, Colorado. For previous issues click HERE.)

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More healing reports...

2008-07-14T11:07:38Z

Hi Folks,

I encourage people to report their healings to me by writing them down so I don't miss the names or the details. Many just don't do it (preferring to tell me only verbally), so know that there are a number of healings that have happened at New Song Fellowship, Denver that I'm not reporting here.

From Pat Crom: Pat had pain in her hips such that she could not sleep well at night and definitely not when she turned on her side. She felt the touch of God during worship and the pain left her. We often suggest waiting a few days to report such a healing in order to be certain it's real and remains. After two weeks Pat reports that she remains pain free.

From Donna Leonardson: As a result of an accident three years ago Donna suffered nerve damage to her right leg. This caused such pain that it prevented her from sleeping at night. Painkillers had no effect. In addition, a year and half ago she irritated the bursa in her hip. It would flair up when she would sit on hard surfaces and at other times. Two members of our ministry team prayed for her and all the pain vanished. She has been three weeks pain free.

From Julie Brown: I'm quoting excerpts from an email Julie sent me. "My sister-in-law emailed a bunch of our family about her grown daughter from a previous marriage who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I prayed very focused-ly for her for a couple of days and promptly forgot about it. her daughter went to a specialist with her test results and the pictures of the cancer and the specialist did more tests and took more pictures and could not find anything. The doctors say they know for a fact it was there two weeks ago, and can't explain how it disappeared!!!!!!!!"

From Virginia Fishburn: Earlier we reported a healing of the arthritis Virginia suffered in her left foot. We reported how the pain had vanished and she had been able to dance once more. The arthritis had produced a deformity in her foot. We've been praying for that deformity to be healed in addition to the pain relief. We are happy to report that what once was the size of a golf ball has been reduced to the size of a marble. We'll keep praying until it vanishes altogether.

While we are grateful for the healing God is sending into our midst, God tells us that these "little" miracles have been only a rehearsal. As of Sunday night 7/13/08 we are praying for a step up into the big stuff! For instance, Beth and I will will visit the hospital today to pray for a newborn who needs a new heart. We'd rather see God implant a new one than let the surgeons do it, and so we're asking. God, give us faith and the anointing for the creative miracles! New spines! New arms or legs! New hearts! And more!

God bless!
Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship, Denver

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Another healing week!

2008-06-30T20:01:34Z

Hi folks!

It's been another glory week with several reported healings. Here they are!

6/29/08 From Devin Wanberg
Devin has suffered from scoliosis of the spine for most of his life. This was aggravated severely by a car accident. Over recent months the severe pain nearly overwhelmed him. During worship Sunday night 6/29, Pastor Loren heard the Lord say to tell Devin, �This is your night to be healed,� and subsequently called Devin forward to receive prayer. Instead Devin came directly to Pastor Loren as he played guitar and sang and told him that he had been healed of 95% of his pain just five minutes earlier. For the first time in a long time Devin was able to spend the night dancing and leaping before the Lord.

6/29/08 From Marci
Marci reported on Sunday that had been healed of her asthma. How long? �The whole month of June,� she said. How often did it affect you? �All the time.� And in all that time you haven�t suffered an attack? �Nope!�

6/29/08 From Virginia Fishburn
Virginia�s father suffered from a very painful arthritic spine. He received prayer at New Song and has been completely free of pain for the first time for several weeks now.

6/29/08 From Patricia Sheffield
On 6/22 a word of knowledge was given during worship concerning some kind of jury to the right side of someone�s neck. Patricia had been in process of moving her belongings from one home to another when she picked up a heavy object and suffered a very painful injury her neck. Patricia is in her �70s. God sovereignly healed her during worship that day.

6/29/08 From Mike Pike
Mike was suffering from an injury to his chest that caused a lot of pain and prevented him from doing any kind of push-ups or other movement that involved his chest. While on our youth mission trip to southern California, God completely healed the injury. No pain. Four other significant healings happened on that trip to others who went.

God bless!
Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship, Denver
www.newsongfellowship.org

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More healings!- they haven't stopped!

2008-06-25T15:52:06Z

Hi folks!

Here's the latest batch of healings!

6/19/08 From Tim Coffman
I had been told I had high blood pressure about six weeks ago. It had been checked a few times with the same result. I was at the service when you felt to pray for people who had high blood pressure. I went to a clinic. They checked my blood pressure and it had a good reading. I asked them about it (I don't understand the numbers), and they again stressed that my blood pressure was very good.

6/8/08 From Star Wiklund
This healing of arthritis was on 6/8/08. Her name is Anita. She came to our church as a guest of mine. She also came the next week and received even more healing. She has suffered from this physical problem for many years.

6/22/08 From Anna Berlin
Yesterday (Saturday), on the way home from the Ministry Training, my vision in my left eye cleared perceptively! Vision still blurry, but less so. I do believe that the cornea is now healed, the iris less sensitive to light, so now all I need is a new lens! Piece of cake for our Lord, yes? Thank you, Jesus! (Anna has had multiple surgeries on her eyes. Some healings come in stages. This is one where we see progress, and we will continue praying until it's finished!)

God bless, Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship, Denver

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The reports just keep coming!

2008-06-18T18:32:59Z

Hi folks,

Two more healing reports came in since the last email. I hope you're all encouraged by this and that you don't get tired of hearing about it. God is on the move! Here they are:

6/15/08 From Julie Hearn
There was a spot/mole on my left shoulder that has recently changed color and size. Have been praying about it and was still trying to decide if I needed to have it checked by my doctor. Sunday morning I decided I didn't need to KNOW what it was, I only needed to know that God is my Healer and since it was causing anxiety and fear, I could go to Him and have it gone. I went forward and Harriet graciously prayed for me. It felt like an electrical shock went through my shoulder and the anointing went all the way down my left side. (That "tingling" sensation went on for most of the afternoon) I knew, that I knew, that I knew I was healed. I avoided even checking it out for a couple of days. I looked at it yesterday and showed it to Dennis as well. It has gotten smaller and is no longer a weird color. The devil is such a chump.......

6/18/08 From Tracy Fischer
I had fallen 3 weeks ago and my leg was out of whack. I walked with a limp and was very worried as it was still very sore to the touch. If it lasted any longer I was going to have to go in for physical therapy. During worship God said if I reached out to him, he would heal me. That was the day you called ministry time for joints. I was so focused on my hand arthritis I did not even think about my leg. After several days I was walking around and realized I had no pain or limp. My ankle bones did not even crack when I walk as they normally do (even before the fall). Yesterday I even took a bike spinning class and walked on the treadmill for a mile. He healed my leg when I did not even consciously ask for it and it was sovereignly done during worship.

God bless,
Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship, Denver
www.newsongfellowship.org

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More healings!

2008-06-17T22:47:47Z

Hi folks,

God just keeps showing up and healing. It's worth noting that these healings are happening in our regular Sunday worship services. We're not doing specialized healing meetings. It really should happen that way, shouldn't it? Here are two more:

Rae Ellis (6/15/08) had a seriously enlarged lymph node in her neck. A word was giving during worship that God was moving to heal and that if anyone felt anything going on in a problem area in their body (heat, tingling, a touch, etc.), they should simply receive it as the Spirit of God moving to heal. Rae's lymph node shrank to near nothing. God heals sovereignly!

Marci (6/15/08 and whose last name I can never remember) has suffered from epilepsy all her life. Seizures have come frequently and strongly. After having a seizure in church a couple of months ago, members of our ministry team prayed for her healing. For the first time, she has been free of seizures for now two months.

This one comes from two years ago, but it's worth reporting because it speaks to where we're going with our children. Children can minister in the same power as can adults and this one proves it! We are currently working to bring our children more deeply into supernatural ministry, teaching them what Jesus has given them and showing them how and where to use it. Rich Gianzero had a bad back that had given him trouble for years and for which he could find no relief. Periodically we bring the children into the adult service to pray healing for the adults. On one of those Sundays, the children prayed for Rich's back and he has been free of any pain for now two years!

Increasingly, God is healing people sovereignly in the glory of our times of worship, as well as during ministry times at the altar. If you have been healed and if your healing has been confirmed either by a doctor or by pain relief that lasts, please email me or let me know in some other way. I'm keeping a log in addition to using this mailing list to build faith and expectation in our midst.

God bless, Loren Sandford
Senior Pastor
New Song Fellowship

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