10 June 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-
The most anticipated healing rally, Festival of God’s Power, is back this year with Rev Philip Mantofa and Rev Ewen Chow from 6th to 8th of June, at Bukit Jalil stadium.
More than 7500 people came on 7th of June with raincoats and umbrellas under a drizzle that lasted for one hour, with close to 2000 people watching this event live streamed.
“It’s time for God’s people to pray like never before. Don’t stop praying. We should put our hope in our Lord Jesus and not men because He is our hope,” said Senior Pastor Daniel Ho of DUMC.
Philip Mantofa came on-stage to expound on Luke 10, where Jesus appointed 72 disciples to go ahead of Him to heal every sickness.
“Today, Jesus is still sending many disciples to heal the sick. And I am just one of them in the healing league who prepares the way for the Lord.”
“It is not me who heals but Jesus who heals and saves! I have not died for you but Jesus died for you 2000 years ago,” said Rev Mantofa.
The disciples returned to Jesus with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your Name.” And Jesus replied how he saw Satan falls like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:17-18).
“The Lord is not surprised when the disciples told Jesus (of their victory) because He saw Satan being defeated,” said Rev Mantofa. “So, all we need to do now is to claim that victory, to obey and believe that Jesus already defeated the devil.”
Nothing is too difficult for Jesus when we pray and believe that we would be healed in His name. For example, in our observable physical law, we already know without seeing the proof that touching a high-voltage cable would get us electrocuted to death. Likewise, we do not need to have proof to have faith in an already big name, Jesus Christ.
“When He touched us, we don't even need a big faith to believe that He can change our lives, but all we need is a faith as small as a mustard seed,” said Rev Mantofa.
After Jesus told His disciples what He witnessed, He said to them, ‘I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you’ (Luke 10:19).
“Believe that everything is possible. Jesus said He has given you the power to overcome all things- spiritually, emotionally and physically,” said Rev Mantofa.
Nevertheless, although physical healing is important, nothing beats having our names written in Heaven (Luke 10:20).
Luke 10:20
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
“Even though we are healed and become healthy, all of us will eventually die. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul (Matthew 16:26)?” said Rev Mantofa.
The greatest miracle then, is not healing but receiving salvation itself. When Rev Mantofa accepted Christ 21 years ago, God filled the emptiness in his heart and gave him purpose in life. He cannot imagine life without knowing God because only Jesus Christ can lead him to his eternal home in Heaven.
“This is not about embracing religion which talks about do, do and do. But this is Jesus Christ who said done, done and done.”
“On the cross, He said it is already finished! Salvation is now finished and it’s free!” said Rev Mantofa to the roar of the audience.
Rev Mantofa spoke the gospel in truth and spirit, while occasionally breaking into songs of praise and worship in his speech.
After his speech, he prayed for the Holy Spirit to heal everyone with illness and infirmities. Twelve people among the 708 sick attendees reported to be completely healed, where three of them came on-stage to testify their healing by God’s hands.
At the end, 200 people came to the altar call and accepted Christ, whereby they were baptized at the end of the event in the car park vicinity itself. This outdoor baptism is the first baptism ever done in the history of the Festivals of God’s Power.
What a night! In those three nights from 6th to 8th of June, a total of 26909 people came to the Festival of God’s Power and 4892 watched the event live streamed. A total of 610 people accepted Christ, where 445 of them were baptized after the event. Among the 2741 sick people who attended, 38 people received complete healing, and 21 of them shared their testimonies on-stage.
Although we see God’s powerful healing hands, a question one may ask is, ‘Why didn’t God heal every sick person who came to the event?’ Unfortunately, we do not have the answer for that, but we do know that God has His Way and in His time, He makes all things beautiful.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Also, the Bible did give us a clue in Matthew 9:1-7
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
So, which is easier- forgiving sins or healing of illness? Like the crowd, we are often in awe with physical healing more than forgiveness of sins because physical healing is visible, tangible and provides immediate pleasure and benefit in this lifetime. But the truth is that it is the unseen forgiveness of sin by Jesus Christ, which is more precious because that determines whether we spend our eternity in heaven or hell.
In other words, the greatest miracle is still salvation. And for that miracle, let us take a minute to praise and worship our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus!
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.
May The Lord Jesus be glorified forever!
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I was filled with joy when i looked at the last photo, noted batism in the pool. The joy of salvation is incomprehensible to the fullest extent.