Category Archives: Gifts of the Spirit

January 31, 2017 · 12:02 pm

Prayers for Healing and Deliverance (1/31/2017)

run

 

“*Emily, if you come to the meeting tonight, the Lord will heal you,” I said into the phone.

This phone call occurred twenty-eight years ago while I was doing some teaching at a small home group. I was an office supply salesman and felt the Lord was going to heal Emily of multiple sclerosis. So, I phoned her that afternoon.

Later, she hobbled into the meeting, using a cane to steady herself. She sat down on the sofa. The other four or five attendees sat down near her.

I opened with prayer and then taught a lesson from the Bible. As I finished speaking, I looked over at Emily and saw her with my spiritual eyes. She was totally healed.

I put my Bible down and walked over to her. I reached out my hands and said, “Emily, let’s dance.”

She took my hands and stood up. We then danced all over the living room. I stopped after a few minutes and asked, “Have you noticed anything?”

“No, what?” she said.

“You’re healed.”

She put her hands to her mouth. “Oh Lord, I’m healed,” she said through tears.

Emily walked home that night with the cane over her shoulder. The next day she joined a health club and began working out. Everyone in the city was talking about her miracle.

But sadly, forty days later, she was worse off than when she first arrived at the meeting that evening.

What happened?

She lost her healing.

How?

The multiple sclerosis symptoms starting attacking her body again, which caused her to react in fear and doubt rather than using her faith and trust in the Lord to resist the sickness. The sickness overwhelmed her.

Looking back, I feel it was my lack of experience that I did not take the time to teach her and follow up to help her fight the good fight of faith.

(*Emily: not her real name.)

My prayer today:

Lord, help us to learn how to submit to You and resist the devil so that he will flee from us. (Based on James 4:7)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for new revelations on healing and deliverance for Americans NOW.

2 Comments

Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Deliverance, Gifts of the Spirit, Healing, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , ,

January 30, 2017 · 9:01 am

Geezer Up (Part 5)

“The People of San Francisco against Dylan Matthews,” announced the heavy-set bailiff in a booming voice. He walked over and handed the case file to a clerk.

Almost with a snap of a finger, I stood to the right of Artie Chin while a junior prosecutor with sad eyes stood on the other side of Chin. Judge Esther Strong sat directly in front of us. The fifty or so year old judge looked down at the file in front of her and then over at me. A slight smile crossed her deep red lips for a nano-second before she resumed her judicial posture.

The prosecutor opened with a legal sounding statement. Chin countered with his defense lawyerly jargon. Back and forth the two fired legalese-laced salvos until Chin ended by saying, “My client enters a not-guilty plea.”

Judge Strong closed the file and turned to dismiss us, but then she stopped. She leaned forward and stared into my eyes.

“I’m inclined to allow Mr. Matthews to be released on his own recognizance, without bail, but I do want to ask him a couple of questions first,” she said, pausing to collect her thoughts. “What will you do if I set you free this morning? Will you go back to Temecula and return for your hearing in two weeks?”

Three possible answers crossed my mind at that moment: forty-eighth anniversary trip to Tahoe, playing with my grandchildren, or enjoying a few rounds of golf with some buddies. All would have pleased the judge so I could have walked out the door into the sunlight once again, but they all evaporated into nothingness. What then came out of my mouth caused a reaction like dropping a live grenade into the courtroom.

“I will walk out the door and go directly to the Castro District and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to that community. They deserve to be set free from the kingdom of darkness by the love of Jesus.”

Judge Strong jumped to her feet. A finger jutted out of her black robe and pointed at me. Anger stripped the judge of her judicial mask, revealing her true inner feelings.

“Mr. Matthews, you have no right to impose your self-righteous religious beliefs on our gay and lesbian communities. I will make sure your bigoted beliefs cost you dearly by setting your bail at one hundred thousand dollars and remanding you to the county jail. What do you think of that, Mr. Matthews?” she proclaimed loud enough for everyone in the building to hear her.

I shrugged.

“I shall not pay one dime nor allow anyone to raise money to set me free nor will I eat another bite of food until I am set free from this jail. Whether I walk out the door or am carried out in a casket is up to the Lord, I shall trust Him to set me free,” I replied.

“Well, we’ll see about your so-called God and how your arrogance holds up two weeks from now at your preliminary hearing. Next case.”

My lawyer resumed his normal breathing as he escorted me back to the small holding pen.

“Maybe you would have answered differently if I would have warned you ahead of time that Judge Strong is a lesbian and staunch leader in the LGBT movement,” he whispered.

I laughed.

“Probably not.”

Then, a voice from the courtroom cut my heart.

“Dylan, Dylan, I love you…”

I turned to see Jane waving at me. She looked great in her yellow dress, one of my favorites, but all I could do was nod my head and wonder about what she was thinking.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 6…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

2 Comments

Filed under America, Fiction, Gay, Gifts of the Spirit, Kindle, Kingdom of God, Literature, Prayer, Prophecy, Publishing, San Francisco, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , , ,

January 28, 2017 · 8:07 am

Geezer Up (Part 4)

 

If someone would have asked me, “What do you want for your last meal?” It would not have been soggy cornflakes, warm milk, and awful tasting coffee, which I ate for breakfast that morning. Sugar helped me endure the blitzkrieg against my taste buds, but my stomach demanded the calories to halt its rumbling sounds. At the time, it was a dismal meal, but in the days ahead, I looked back on it as a pleasant repast. It’s funny how hunger can distort one’s memories.

Forty-five minutes later, the jailer stood in front of the holding cell with a clipboard in his hand. “Listen up men,” he said, looking down. “Ramos, Soto, Delgado, Valdez, Trujillo, and Matthews − you are in the first group to be taken to the courtroom. Your arraignments will begin at 9 a.m. If you have a lawyer, he will meet you there. If you don’t, a court appointed lawyer will handle your arraignment.”

He spun around and walked away.

I did my best to wash my face and clean up in the sink, but there was no mirror to help me in this task. I looked at the others in the holding cell and figured I looked better than some and worse than others. Oh well, I thought, this is as good as it gets for me today.

 

Two deputies guarded us as we walked over to the courtroom’s small holding cell. I sat down with the five homies on a metal bench and faced the empty courtroom. The clock on the back wall read − 8:34.

“Matthews.”

I looked up and saw a man wearing a dark suit and white shirt standing in front of the cell. He had short black hair and seemed to be of Chinese or Korean heritage. He motioned for me to come near him.

“I’m Artie Chin. Your lawyer, Jacob, referred me to you,” he whispered.

“Thanks,” I replied.

“You are charged with a hate crime for preaching to gays. This is a new law enacted by the San Francisco City Council and went into effect one week ago, just in time for Pride Week. The good news for you is that you are the worst possible test case for the law −”

“Why?”

He blew out a deep breath.

“You’re a retired seventy-three year old man, not an ordained preacher, have no ministry, and have no history of preaching or writing against gays. They’re after bigger fish than you.”

“Okay, what do you think I should do?”

“I’m sure you will be released on personal recognizance. No bail required. You will have to promise to show up in court a couple of weeks from now, but I think I can get the charges dropped altogether. The judge may ask some questions, but probably not. You should be a free man in about sixty minutes.”

His words would have encouraged me if the Holy Spirit had not spoken to me a few hours earlier. So, I prepared myself for bad news.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 5…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

4 Comments

Filed under America, Books, Church, Fiction, Gay, Gifts of the Spirit, Kindle, Kingdom of God, Literature, Prayer, Prophecy, Publishing, Self publishing, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 27, 2017 · 6:29 am

Geezer Up (Part 3)

 

The afternoon turned into evening and the evening into night. Fourteen people joined us in the holding cell. The newcomers forced me to make a decision between sitting with tattoo-covered murderers or with vomiting drunks and strung-out druggies. I chose the five MS-13 homies and behaved myself.

Do you remember how bad school lunches tasted when you were in first grade? Dry bread, chalky-tasting peanut butter sandwiches, and soggy potato chips served with stewed prunes and a dollop of day-old whipped cream. All of it ladled out on a yellow compartment tray.

Well, let me tell you, my first bite into the peanut butter sandwich made me yearn for the good old days of first grade. I gagged and spit up a mouthful into a napkin.

“Hey, old white man, about three in the morning, you’ll be wishing you ate this garbage,” said the youth with the teardrops tattooed under his eyes.

I shook my head and offered my tray to him. He took it and consumed both his and mine. I admired how he and his friends adapted to their situations without so much as a single complaint. I supposed being in jail was just a normal part of their lives.

But the smell!

Nineteen guys in a ten by twenty room with vomit, diarrhea, normal toilet usage, and BO swirling around us without a fan to alleviate the stench. My poor stomach tried its best to unload itself, but somehow everything remained below deck. Steady as she goes, I thought to myself in a moment of humor, which quickly passed.

And sleeping!

If I leaned back, my back hurt because of the iron bars, but leaning forward moved my nose closer to the vomit and diarrhea on the floor. I compromised by slouching down like an old sweater midway between both positions. I dozed a little here and there throughout the night, but around 3 a.m., I had a vision.

In it, I was seated high above the city of San Francisco, maybe even in the heavenly places, which are mentioned in the Bible. I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, “I am going to use your time in jail as an opportunity to take on the spirit of depravity, which is the main principality governing San Francisco. Be bold and allow me to speak through you. I will give you more than enough grace for this season of your life.”

I then fell into a deep sleep, comforted by the gift of faith, which enveloped me like a warm quilt.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 4…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

 

2 Comments

Filed under America, Books, Christianity, Church, Fiction, Gifts of the Spirit, Literature, Prayer, Prophecy, Publishing, Self publishing, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

January 26, 2017 · 12:20 pm

Prayers for America (1/26/2017)

11160680_10202970551704040_6853963304935390655_n

Right now, the American Church is divided by theology, race, politics, gender, abortion, Jew, Gentile, gay issues, and so forth. How can unity be achieved in the Body of Christ?

Lets check how Jesus handled divisions in His day between the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Essenes, Herodians, Hellenistic believers, and others:

 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:34-37)

The Prince of Peace did not show up with a guitar to sing Kumbaya and talk about unity and peace at campfire meetings. He came with a word that was sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit. People then had to make decisions and sometimes most of them walked away and followed Him no more.

So, don’t go thinking the American Church will undergo a great revival and everyone will be changed into a vessel of love. It won’t happen! But what we can expect to see are more shakings and more siftings in the American Church in the months and years ahead.

My prayer today:

Lord, help America believers to deny ourselves, pick up our crosses daily, and follow You, no matter what it may cost us. (Based on Mark 8:34)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

4 Comments

Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , ,

January 25, 2017 · 8:49 am

Geezer Up (Part 2)

 Any syrupy ideas I might have had about jail were erased when the door banged shut to my holding cell. The five young men who sat on the bolted down metal benches, which lined both sides of the cell, followed me with their dark eyes as I sat down in the far right corner. A stainless steel toilet without a lid stood next to a small sink in the middle of the back wall. No privacy here, I thought.

“Hey, old white man, what terrible crime have you committed that the police would lock you up with five MS-13 homies charged with murder?” asked a young man covered with tattoos and wearing a white tank top.

My ears perked up with the mention of MS-13, also known as the Mara Salvatrucha. It’s the most violent gang in the United States with its members known for their cruel murders and merciless revenge.

“I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the LGBT parade watchers down in the Castro District. Some became angry and kicked me around like an old football. I was charged with a hate crime.”

“Did you fight back, old man?” asked a short young man with teardrops tattooed under both eyes.

“No, of course, not,” I replied.

The five laughed and slapped each other on the back as if my words were the funniest ones ever spoken.

“Old man, that is hilarious!” said the biggest youth with a large scar on his neck. “You preach the gospel to gays and lesbians. Then they beat and kick the crap out of you, but you don’t fight back. And you’re the one who gets charged with a hate crime. We MS-13 homies understand that type of justice. So, what happened to the gays who did this to you?”

I rubbed my baldhead and shrugged. “I don’t know, but I pray that God won’t hold their actions against them.”

The same youth leaned toward me. “Do you really think God cares about gays and lesbians?”

“Yes, and not only that, He cares and loves you, too.”

“Old white man, now you’ve gone too far.”

The five leaned back and closed their eyes, ignoring my presence.

I sat there, checking myself out. My broken nose hurt. My ribs were sore and all of the other bruises added to my suffering. Blood covered the front of my blue oxford shirt and khaki slacks. Yet, in the midst of my pain and bloody clothing, I wanted to jump and shout and praise God because He counted me worthy to suffer for His name.

“Lord,” I prayed softly, “thanks for giving a seventy-three year old geezer, like me, a second chance to be a part of the action and not allowing me to retire from Your kingdom work. And Lord, use me even more in the days ahead.”

The Lord reminded me of this prayer often in the days following it.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 3…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

 

2 Comments

Filed under America, Books, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Fiction, Gifts of the Spirit, Kindle, Kingdom of God, Literature, Prayer, Prophecy, Publishing, Self publishing, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , ,

January 24, 2017 · 10:18 am

Prayers for Healing and Deliverance (1/24/2017)

2222

The first person I prayed for healing was one of my favorite aunts who was suffering from cancer. I was so positive that the Lord would answer my prayers, but yet she died a few weeks later.

Her death jolted my faith.

At the time, I had been saved for about four months and had been listening to Kenneth Hagin and other Word of Faith teachers. So, I assumed my faith was good enough to move mountains and heal cancer, but it wasn’t!

I ended up driving by myself from Iowa to northern Illinois to attend my aunt’s funeral. On the two-hour trip, the Lord encouraged me to keep on growing, studying, and trusting Him. AND to keep on praying for the sick whenever I had the chance.

This took place almost thirty-one years ago. I still remember the agony I felt in the car, the tears I shed, the failure facing me, and the decision I had to make — whether to keep on praying for healing of the sick or to join the Christian naysayers on the sidelines.

I decided to trust God:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:15-16)

Over the years, I have seen a few miracles and many deaths, but I know this one thing to be true. At some point, heaven will pour out a greater anointing upon believers and death will be forced to let go of its grip on the people we pray for.

My prayer for today:

Lord, help us believers to honor Your word and promises as much as You do. (Based on Psalm 138:2)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for new revelations on healing and deliverance for Americans NOW.

 

11 Comments

Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Deliverance, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Healing, Intercession, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , ,

January 23, 2017 · 12:20 pm

Geezer Up (Part 1)

I hated phoning Jane, but there were no other options because she needed to know my situation. The long distance operator took my info in a business-like manner, connecting the call as I sat there with my hands cuffed together. Sweat dripped off my forehead onto the plastic-covered information blotter in front of me. The police officer standing next to me belched, coating the air with his garlic and onion breath.

“Dylan, what’s wrong?” Jane shouted into her cellphone.

“Well, I have a little situation here in San Francisco, but don’t worry —”

“Don’t worry! Are you kidding? Where are you right now? And where’s your cellphone?”

“I’m at County Jail Number Four, on Bryant Street in San Francisco —”

“Is this one of your jokes? If it is, it’s not funny!”

“Honey, it’s not a joke. I’m being charged with a hate crime and will be arraigned tomorrow morning. You need to call our attorney, Jacob, and have him refer me to a criminal lawyer here in San Francisco. Tell him I’m in County Jail Number Four.”

A gasp could be heard through the receiver, followed by a few sniffles.

“Hate crime? What’d you do?”

“It’s really no big deal. I just preached a short message to the gays in the Castro District. That’s all…no big deal. So don’t worry, please.”

“Gunsmoke, no big deal! It’s Pride Week there, right? Did they rough you up?”

“There was a little fighting, maybe even a small riot. I have a few bruises, but my nose should be okay once a doctor checks me out and sets it in place.”

BEEP!

“Sweetheart, don’t talk. That beep means we have thirty seconds left before we’re disconnected. Call Jacob and tell him I’m at County Jail Number Four.”

“Honey, I love you and —”

The officer tapped me on the shoulder as soon as my call finished. I stood up and he pointed toward the door, leading back to lockup. My glasses steamed up as we moved from a cooler room into the warmer cellblock.

Yikes, I thought as I walked through the door, Jane’s really upset because she called me by my college nickname –Gunsmoke – which she hates. Not only that, she’s probably wondering how my arrest will affect our forty-eighth wedding anniversary plans to travel to Tahoe for this upcoming weekend. What a jam you’re in, Dylan Matthews! I’d better geezer up and prepare my seventy-three year old body for what awaits me in the days ahead.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 2…the first 9 parts are reruns and can be read here.)

3 Comments

Filed under America, Books, Christianity, Church, Fiction, Gay, Gifts of the Spirit, Homosexual, Kindle, Kingdom of God, Literature, Prophecy, Publishing, Self publishing, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 20, 2017 · 6:53 am

Shouldn’t you download “Common Sense 2017” today? It’s Free!

common-sense-2017

 

Today is the beginning of a new presidency for America, which is drastically different than our last one. Have you scratched your head and wondered how America arrived at this point in history where a businessman has now become the Chief Executive, taking over for a history making politician? If so, maybe you should download my new book,  Common Sense 2017, which is free on Amazon today through Sunday.

Amazon Book Description:

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.” (Thomas Paine,  Common Sense, 1775)

Is it common sense to suggest God was involved in the 2016 Presidential election? If He were involved, couldn’t He have chosen a better man than Donald Trump to be the 45th President of the United States?

Is it common sense to think God will overlook the eight years of ill-treatment by President Obama and his administration against His chosen nation − Israel?

Is it common sense to expect good economic times during President Trump’s term in the Whitehouse?

Is it common sense to believe President Obama will sit quietly on the sidelines for four years?

Is it common sense for us to just sit back and take it easy over the next four years?

The common sense answers to all these questions are contained in Common Sense 2017.

Common Sense 2017 is a common sense approach to what is presently happening in America, looking at our yesterdays through the lens of the Bible and then forward to our tomorrows through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. Common Sense 2017 forces us to take off our rose-colored glasses and accurately discern our times.

The author of Common Sense 2017 is Larry Nevenhoven, who has authored and published thirteen other Amazon eBooks, including Common Sense 2016. It is Nevenhoven’s most urgent call for action for today’s Christians.

Fifty percent of the royalties earned for this book will be donated to help the poor and helpless.

64 pages    Author: Larry Nevenhoven    Publisher: LarryWho

Kindle eBook: $2.99

Available on Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Apps.

2 Comments

Filed under Books, Business, Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, Israel, Jerusalem, Kindle, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Politics, Prayer, Prophecy, Publishing, Self publishing, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 19, 2017 · 5:29 am

Prayers for America (1/19/2017)

11160680_10202970551704040_6853963304935390655_n

Only believers can make a difference with our nation’s sin, in accordance with −

If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This familiar verse is quoted over and over again, especially after a tragedy, but let’s be honest with each other, okay? We must be doing something wrong because it’s not working very well.

Over the years, we have memorized the words and mouthed lip service to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but have paid little attention to the context of why the Lord spoke His words. If we look at verse 12, we will learn that verse 14 was an answer to Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:14-42.

In his prayer, King Solomon prayed about the possibilities of Israel being defeated by enemies, overcome by droughts, famines, pestilences, plagues, and sicknesses and asked the Lord to hear. To hear what? Prayers and supplications.

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3 NKJ)

In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was He heard because of His reverence. (Hebrews 5:7)

Supplications are desperate, passionate, earnest prayers from the deepest part of our hearts, crying out to God for Him to intervene on our behalves. It usually includes weeping, crying, and fasting − that’s really what the verb “humble” denotes in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

(Excerpt from Common Sense 2017 by Larry Nevenhoven, © 2017, Amazon eBook)

My prayer today:

Lord, help American believers to return to You with all of our hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. (Based on Joel 2:12)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

2 Comments

Filed under America, Christianity, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , ,