signifying the end of paralysis – photo credits Arise Church
The closing to Arise Conference 2019 was a great prophecy not only for individuals but also the nation of New Zealand. Arise Conference has always been about more people knowing God and walking in their God given purpose. This mandate to see the nation of Aotearoa saved for God resounded at the conference.
The theme of the conference for this year ‘The Good Fight’ was one that exhorts all Christians to pick up our sword, the Word of God and engage in the spiritual fight for not only ourselves but also for the people around us, our nation and for the entire world.
Holy Echoes
Ps. Gillian Cameron, reminds us that sound requires a medium to travel in. We are that medium to bring the good news of God’s salvation to others around us.
Romans chapter 10, verse 13-14 clearly states, ‘for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?’
Unless we become the medium to share the testimony God has done in our lives, people would not hear about God, no matter how great He is, how much He loves them and cares for them. How then are they to believe, when they have not even heard about it!
There’s so much to gain when we echo His grace and mercy in our lives. Our testimony is something that cannot be challenged since we are living proof of it.
The end of paralysis
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez ends the conference with a prophetic declaration over New Zealand. He invited Ps. John Cameron, the conference host, to illustrate the story of the paralysed man by the pool of Bethesda waiting for 38 years to be healed (John chapter 10, verses 1-11).
We have all been paralysed in certain areas of our lives – paralysed integrity, faith, joy, dream, ministry, future and the list goes on. All these may have been paralysed by various things – sin, fear, worry, anxiety, pain, unforgiveness, addiction, dependency, anger, poverty, past failures and even successes, opinions of others.
Ultimately, the healing came for the man not depending on his potential but Jesus’ power. The moment Jesus came, He made him next and ended the paralysis!
At the end of the session, Rev. Samuel asked Ps. John to stand up as a representation of the end of paralysis throughout Aotearoa. We could sense the victory as Ps. John stood up while the conference lifted up praises to God.
Next, the picking up of the mat signified that nobody will trip over what has been left behind. When you pick the mat up, the mat becomes our testimony; if we leave it, it's our trial. We don’t live there anymore and we are not who we used to be anymore.
Rev. Samuel invited Ps. Gillian up on stage and together, the two lead pastors of Arise Church, walked as the man that was healed did. He encouraged us to walk by faith not by sight.
Rev. Samuel shared the analogy of walking towards an automated door. Even though from afar all we can see is a closed door, we know that when we reach the door, there is a sensor that will sense us and open the doors for us.
It struck me that doesn’t matter what we see, we can still have faith doors will open in our favour when we have God on our side. I left conference this year with a deep conviction – it’s not about me but all about God.
Esther Koh is a stay-at-home mum living in Wellington with her husband and two sons. She loves people and has a passion for helping others find their purpose for living.
Esther Koh’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/esther-koh.html