Goodbye – From Burkina Faso (VIDEO)

What is it about Jesus that provokes such incredible passion in our hearts? Why do we long for Him so much? Why do we hang spellbound on His every word and love even the mention of his precious name? How can it be that this whirlwind romance never ends. It defies the most articulate words to describe and the most logical explanation to justify. Though we have not seen Him, we love Him, and though we do not see Him now, we believe in Him, and greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. We desire Him not so much as one desires a delicious meal, but more like a heroine addict desires a fix…we are undignified, unrestrained and undone by our need for him. We pursue Him relentlessly. We follow Him blindly. We obey Him recklessly. We love Him hopelessly. We need him endlessly. We would pour over Him the most costly bottle of perfume. We would wash His feet with our tears and dry them with our hair. We would waste our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor for his pleasure without a fleeting thought of their preservation. We would suffer the loss of all things, and count them but dung to win Him. It is so unnatural, yet we cannot imagine feeling any other way. It is so unbelievable, yet we don’t understand how anyone could doubt. It is so intangible, yet we feel it with every fiber of our beings. Though Kingdoms have fallen and entire empires have turned to dust somehow He still rules our hearts…the unchallenged King of love. How anyone could resist Him is a mystery and a tragedy, but in the end all will declare with Rome’s dying emperor, “Thou Hast Conquered, O Galilean!”

Today the Fire fell. The revival did not tarry! It is right here in Bali/Nigeria! Preachers often make up sermons hunting for new reasons to explain “why revival tarries”. Rules and strictures are put in place to get power and revival – rules which we sadly never fulfill. The first disciples had no such rules. All Jesus said was “Wait till the Holy Spirit comes, and don’t do any preaching till he comes” (see Acts 1:4). Our concern is not a “nice atmosphere” or “sweet influence”, but God’s fire. Pentecost is the intended norm in Christianity – people glowing like live coals and churches like bonfires. Bible religion is always red-blooded, out of the sanctuary and in the market place. The picture is of a bustling, out-reaching, blazing witness. And this happened today at the Fire Conference in the morning with 30,000 church-workers present – glory to God.

Every night is an adventure here in Bali. Our drive to the crusade site is like stepping into ancient times. We turn off the paved road and drive on the dirt through a small village where mud huts are capped by thatched roofs. Scrawny chickens scamper away from our SUV as we come close and mostly naked people peer out of their doorways to see what the commotion is all about. It’s hard not to wonder what kind of an event could possibly be held in such an obscure place…and then the view widens. The ground has obviously been cleared by earth moving vehicles, and in the distance you can see it: thousands upon thousands of people have gathered in the middle of this vast wilderness. The dust, stirred by the sandal clad feet of a great multitude, rises like a thick cloud above the crowd, and through the fog the familiar CfaN crusade lights shine like a beacon in the night to which the people swarm like insects…it is sureal.

My heart is moved when I see these people, many of whom have traveled great distances to be here. One lady testified tonight that she had suffered with a constant issue of blood for the past 15 years. This would be a torment for anyone, but how much worse for someone who lives in the primitive and unsanitary conditions of the third-world, where even running water is a luxury that none can afford. She had been to doctors and hospitals, but no one could help her. Then she heard that a Bonnke crusade had come to Bali. She said that her husband refused to go and even refused to give her any money to make the long journey. Determined to receive her healing, she persisted like the woman in the Bible who also had an issue of blood. She sold her skirt to pay for the transportation and traveled all the way alone. On the first night of the Crusade (Wednesday) at midnight the menstruation stopped flowing. From that moment on, she was healed and came tonight (two days later) to testify of her healing.

Tonight I preached about the blood of Jesus and then broke the curses over the land. We asked for a list of the curses that the people knew by name such as DANBEKI which they believe brings blindness upon a person if they fail to offer a human sacrifice or like JUNBI which causes mysterious diseases, madness and epilepsy. We collected a list of 17 such curses. These are names that hold these local tribal people in great fear. Some of them are so intimidated they will not even mention these names aloud. Tonight, with boldness, I called out each curse by name and broke its power in the mighty name of Jesus, to which the people erupted in joyful shouts after each one. The sense of freedom was palpable and the people were rejoicing. Surely the blood of Jesus breaks every fetter.

The healings were incredible again and too many to mention. One lady even testified that she received a second healing…one last night and another tonight. I asked her what she will be healed from tomorrow night. She said, “It’s someone else’s turn for a miracle.” It seems that Jesus has plenty of power to spare.

Tonight was the first night of the Gospel crusade here in Bali, and Jesus showed up in a wonderful way. The miracles were amazing. One lady was healed over about a quarter mile away from the crusade field…in her home. She was dying from cancer, she had a paralyzed arm, and she was bedridden in her house. But from her bed she could hear me preaching the Gospel. Then I began to pray for the sick, and I said, “If you are lying on a bed right now get up in Jesus name!” She said that she received it by faith and tried to stand to her feet. At that moment, she said she felt as though hands lifted her to her feet, and suddenly she was healed. Her cancer was gone and her paralyzed arm healed. She didn’t even bother to get dressed. She threw a blanket around her waist and came the crusade ground right away. This woman who was bedridden, walked all the way to the crusade ground and right up to the platform to give her testimony. We saw such a variety of miracles tonight. The cripples walked, the blind received sight, and the deaf heard. Praise the Lord!