♪♪
JONI LAMB: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO JONI TABLE TALK.
THE SHOW WHERE WE BRING YOU
REAL CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER.
I'M YOUR HOST, JONI LAMB.
JOIN US AS WE EXPLORE
UNFORGETTABLE TESTIMONIES,
TACKLE HARD-HITTING TOPCS,
AND UNCOVER THE TRUTH THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES
WITH AUTHENTICITY, BIBLICAL WISDOM,
AND A HEART OF TRANSFORMATION.
SO, PULL UP A CHAIR.
JOIN US AROUND THE TABLE
AND LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN.
♪♪
JONI: SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T IGNORE THAT INNER VOICE
AND YOU CHOOSE TO STEP OUT IN FAITH?
WELL, TODAY'S GUEST HAS SEEN LIVES CHANGED
THROUGH UNEXPECTED CONVERSATIONS
AND BOLD OBEDIENCE.
HE'S HERE TO SHARE HOW ANYONE CAN LEARN
TO RECOGNIZE THOSE MOMENTS AND STEP RIGHT INTO THEM,
FROM HIS BOOK, TAKING IT TO THE STREETS.
BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, OF COURSE,
JOINING ME AROUND THE TABLE IS APRIL SIMONS.
APRIL: HEY THERE.
JONI: HOW ARE YA?
APRIL: I'M DOING GREAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO PUT FEET TO OUR FAITH.
THAT'S PART OF IT.
JONI: WE GOTTA...
♪ TAKIN' IT TO THE STREET ♪
APRIL: THAT'S IT.
I WANNA SING IT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA SING IT.
JONI: OKAY.
DOROTHY NEWTON, HOW ARE YOU?
DOROTHY: I'M DOING SO GOOD.
YOU KNOW, I'M ALL ABOUT THAT STREET WORK, YOU KNOW.
JONI: YEAH.
DOROTHY: THAT'S WHERE WE SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.
THAT'S WHERE WE CAN BE A TRUE INSTRUMENT
TO GOD'S PURPOSE AND PLANS FOR US HERE ON EARTH.
JONI: AND WE CAN BRING THEM TO CHURCH WITH US.
DOROTHY: ABSOLUTELY.
WE CAN GET THEM OFF THE STREETS INTO THE CHURCH.
JONI: THAT'S RIGHT.
RACHEL LAMB BROWN, HOW ARE YA?
RACHEL: I'M GOOD.
AND I LOVE THIS GUEST TODAY
AND WHAT HE'S GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.
SO MANY PEOPLE NEED JESUS,
AND THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR US ALL AROUND.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW HOW ONE SMILE OR ONE CONVERSATION
COULD LITERALLY CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
JONI: SO TRUE. SO TRUE.
REBECCA LAMB WEISS, YOU'VE INTERVIEWED OUR GUEST.
REBECCA: YES.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'M EXCITED TO GET INTO THESE STORIES
OF PROPHETIC EVANGELISM.
YOU GUYS ARE WANTING TO STAY TUNED
BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, HONESTLY.
JONI: IS IT A CRAZY STORY?
REBECCA: THERE'S -- NO, THERE'S TONS OF THEM.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM.
JONI: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
FROM AIRPLANES TO SUBWAYS, TO STREETS, AND CROWDED CITIES,
PASTOR GREG DEVRIES HAS SEEN GOD MOVE
IN MIRACULOUS WAYS BY SIMPLY FOLLOWING THE LEADING
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SAYING, YES.
WELL, TODAY HE'S HERE TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE
INCREDIBLE STORIES AND SHOW US HOW
PROPHETIC EVANGELISM IS FOR EVERYONE.
SO LET'S START AT THE BEGINNING.
TAKE US BACK, GROWING UP, GREG.
GREG: YEAH.
GROWING UP, I GREW UP IN A WONDERFUL FAMILY,
A GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY.
WE ATTENDED CHURCH, BUT NOBODY WAS BORN AGAIN.
NOBODY WAS SAVED.
NOBODY HAD MET THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
THEY HAD HAD RELIGION AND KNOWLEDGE.
AND MY MOTHER WAS WATCHING CHRISTIAN TELEVISION --
JONI: WOW.
GREG: YES, WATCHING CHRISTIAN TELEVISION,
AND SHE RECEIVED SALVATION AND THE BAPTISM
OF THE SPIRIT ALL IN ONE MOMENT.
SHE GOT UP AND WENT TO OUR PASTOR AND TOLD HIM
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HIS LIFE AND IN HER LIFE.
AND HE SAID, I THINK YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
A MID-LIFE CRISIS.
JONI: OH, NO.
GREG: AND HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT.
AND SO SHE ENDED UP GOING TO A PENTECOSTAL
SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH ON SUNDAY NIGHTS AND MET THE LORD
AND GOT DISCIPLED AND TRAINED
AND STARTED TO PRAY FOR US.
14 YEARS LATER, JONI, 14 YEARS LATER,
I GOT SAVED.
I GOT BORN AGAIN.
I HAD GONE THROUGH SOME DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
AND A LOT OF FAILURES IN MY LIFE,
AND SHE HAD PRAYED ME THROUGH.
I CAN REMEMBER COMING IN THE HOUSE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
SNEAKING IN AND PULLING THAT DOOR,
AND IT'D BE 2, 3, 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
IT SQUEAKED LOUDER BECAUSE I WAS PULLING IT,
TRYING TO SNEAK IN.
AND WOULD GO IN AND SHE WOULD BE AT THE COUCH
PRAYING SOMETIMES AND SHE'D NEVER GET UP.
AND I THOUGHT I SNUCK PAST HER.
WELL, LO AND BEHOLD, I ASKED HER YEARS LATER,
AFTER I'D BEEN BORN AGAIN, I SAID,
MOM, I USED TO SNEAK IN.
SHE SAID, OH, I KNEW YOU CAME HOME.
SHE SAID, I WAS PRAYING FOR YOU NOT JUST
TO GET HOME SAFE, BUT I WAS PRAYING
FOR YOU TO GET SAVED.
JONI: SO HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT SAVED?
GREG: I WAS 24 YEARS OLD.
I'D BEEN ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL SINCE
I WAS ABOUT 16 TO 17 YEARS OLD.
REBECCA: WOW.
GREG: YEAH, SO I WAS 24.
RACHEL: WAS IT HARD TO KIND OF CHANGE THAT LIFESTYLE
AFTER HAVING BEEN IN IT FOR SO LONG?
GREG: THE SALVATION EXPERIENCE WAS SO POWERFUL.
I HAD NO WITHDRAWALS.
I HAD NO DESIRES.
I HAVE NOT DESIRED OR HAD AN INTEREST IN ANY
DRUG OR ALCOHOL.
JONI: SO THAT WAS A MIRACLE.
GREG: IT WAS.
IT WAS A TRANSFORMATION.
JONI: WOW.
GREG: ABSOLUTELY.
JONI: AND SO HOW WERE YOU DIFFERENT AFTER THAT?
GREG: I THINK THAT IT STARTED TO STIR A HUNGER
AND A DESIRE AND AN INTEREST.
I BECAME MUCH MORE SELFLESS INSTEAD OF
THINKING ABOUT MYSELF.
IMMEDIATELY, IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE.
IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE.
HOW CAN I TOUCH OTHER PEOPLE?
I DIDN'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE FOR IT, BUT I KNEW
I WAS BEING CALLED INTO THE MINISTRY.
JONI: NOW, DIDN'T YOU GO TO SOME KIND OF MINISTRY,
OUTREACH MINISTRY --
REBECCA: LIKE A SCHOOL.
JONI: FOR CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP?
GREG: IT'S INTERESTING WHAT YOU SAID,
IT IS OUTREACH MINISTRIES.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED.
AND THE FOUNDER IS NOW DECEASED,
BUT HIS SON-IN-LAW AND DAUGHTER OVERSEE THE MINISTRY.
IT'S A 13-MONTH CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM,
KIND OF THE SCALE OF A TEEN CHALLENGE TYPE MINISTRY.
AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT DISCIPLED, TRAINED
AND EQUIPPED AND CALLED TO THE MINISTRY.
JONI: OKAY.
SO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU
HAD THERE THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW.
GREG: OH, THAT'S SO GOOD.
THAT'S HOW I MET MY WIFE.
IT WAS AN ALL-MEN'S PROGRAM,
BUT I ASKED THEM, I WAS SO HUNGRY FOR THE LORD,
I SAID, CAN I STAY UP AN HOUR LATER?
JONI: I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY
BECAUSE I WAS SO HUNGRY FOR A WIFE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
GREG: WELL, THAT WAS PART OF IT.
AND I KNEW I NEEDED THAT.
SO I WOULD ASK IF I COULD STAY UP AN HOUR LATER
AND GET UP AN HOUR EARLIER.
AND SO WHEN I WAS STAYING AN HOUR LATER,
ONE OF MY ROOMMATES CAME UNDERNEATH THE BUNK BED
AND WERE SEEKING THE LORD AND READING THE SCRIPTURE
WITH A FLASHLIGHT.
AND HE SAID, I HAVE A, I HAVE A SISTER
YOU NEED TO MEET.
AND I SAID, WELL, I SAID, DO YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF HER?
AND HE HAD A PICTURE AND I KNEW IT.
I SAID, THAT'S THE GIRL RIGHT THERE.
AND SO FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS HE WAS SAYING,
I WAS SAYING TO HIM, HEY, BROTHER-IN-LAW,
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND CHRISTMAS TOGETHER,
EASTER TOGETHER.
AND HE SAID, I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE.
SHE'S BEEN DATING A GUY FOR FIVE YEARS.
APRIL: OH, MAN.
GREG: AND THAT'S WHEN I FIRST LEARNED
INFORMED INTERCESSION.
AND SO I STARTED TO PRAY AND STARTED TO PRAY.
AND SURE ENOUGH, SHE'S MY WIFE.
AND WE HAVE 12 CHILDREN AND 21 GRANDCHILDREN.
ALL: WOW.
APRIL: WHOA!
RACHEL: THAT'S A LOT.
JONI: ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL JUMP IN OVER HERE.
APRIL: YOU BEAT ME BAD, 12 KIDS.
I LOVE WHAT YOU TOLD US IN THE BACK,
THAT EVERY ONE OF THEM KNOW JESUS.
GREG: EVERY ONE OF THEM.
APRIL: EVERY ONE OF HIS FAMILY
BECAUSE OF A PRAYING MAMA.
RACHEL: DO YOU THINK THIS GENERATION IS MISSING
THAT KEY ELEMENT OF DISCIPLESHIP,
LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED TO CHANGE THE CHURCH?
GREG: RACHEL, I THINK YOU'RE SPOT-ON.
HE SAID, GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES.
YOU CAN'T MAKE WHAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN MADE.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT, NOT JUST TO ATTEND,
TO BE ATTENTIVE AND TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.
ELISHA HAD TO HAVE ELIJAH, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
HE GOT A DOUBLE PORTION OUT OF IT.
WE COULD BE SO MUCH FURTHER ALONG IN OUR
WALKS WITH THE LORD IF WE HAD A DISCIPLER IN OUR LIFE,
AND THAT IS KEY.
IT'S PARAMOUNT, DISCIPLESHIP.
RACHEL: HOW DOES SOMEBODY, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT ARE WATCHING THAT SAY, I WANT TO MENTOR,
I WANT TO BE DISCIPLED, I WANT TO BE INVESTED
AND POURED INTO, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO
OR HOW TO FIND THAT.
GREG: YEAH.
WELL, I THINK THAT IT'S ALWAYS IN THEIR PRAYER LIFE,
BUT I THINK THAT, HEY, TAP ON SOMEBODY'S SHOULDER,
START SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, JUST SAY,
HEY, I'M LOOKING FOR MORE TIME.
CAN YOU SPEND TIME WITH ME?
AND I WOULD SAY TO THE OLDER GENERATION,
TURN AROUND AND LOOK AND SEE WHO IS THERE
THAT REMINDS YOU OF YOU, OR YOU SEE POTENTIAL IN THEM.
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY AND LEAD THEM
INTO THAT DISCIPLESHIP.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S PARAMOUNT.
ABSOLUTELY.
RACHEL: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S SO GOOD.
OKAY, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROPHETIC EVANGELISM.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
GREG: WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THIS, THAT IF THERE'S
NOT PROPHETIC, ARE WE REALLY GETTING THE VOICE OUT THERE?
THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES US IF SOMEBODY DOES HAVE
SIN IN THEIR HEART AND THEY'RE NOT LIVING WITH THE LORD,
THEY REALLY CAN'T HEAR THE LORD,
AND THE LORD CAN'T HEAR THEM.
SO GOD, IN HIS MERCY, ALL THE WAY BACK TO MOSES,
AS MOSES SAID, I WOULD, THAT ALL THE LORD'S PEOPLE
WOULD BE PROPHETS.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID IN NUMBERS 11:29.
AND HE'S THE MOST MEEK MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT'S THE MEEK THAT INHERIT THE EARTH.
AND SO THE LORD HAS JUST BEEN WAITING
FOR A PROPHETIC GENERATION TO RISE UP.
BUT IF WE'RE EVANGELIZING WITHOUT A PROPHETIC VOICE,
WE'RE PROPAGATING RELIGION.
WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM SOMETHING DRY.
WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM SOMETHING, CUSTOMS
AND, YOU KNOW, PHYLACTERIES, IN ESSENCE,
OF WHAT THEY CAN PUT ON AND DO.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT VOICE OF THE LORD.
AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT, THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.
ANY OF THE TESTIMONIES THAT I WOULD HAVE TO SHARE
ARE LITERALLY TO EXHORT OTHER PEOPLE TO DO
THE SAME THING, BECAUSE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS,
IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.
AND SO IT RELEASES THAT.
AND SO THAT GIVES PEOPLE THE SENSE OF DESTINY.
HOW CAN YOU GET SAVED WITHOUT THE COMPREHENSION
THAT YOU HAVE A DESTINY IN THE MIDST OF IT?
WHAT WOULD IT BE WORTH IN THE MIDST OF IT?
SO, PROPHETIC EVANGELISM IS PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER.
WE TALK ABOUT THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY,
APOSTLE, PROPHET, EVANGELIST, PASTOR, TEACHER,
AND FOLD IS A COOKING TERM.
IT'S WHEN YOU FOLD INGREDIENTS TOGETHER,
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU DON'T SEE THE PROPHET,
YOU DON'T SEE THE EVANGELIST, YOU DON'T SEE THE PASTOR.
IT'S ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
SO, I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BLEND IN THE MIDST OF IT.
AND SO, THE PROPHETIC IS SOMETHING THAT JUST
LITERALLY BRINGS ABOUT THE DESIRE TO
NOT ONLY BE SAVED, BUT THE DESIRE
TO REACH OUT WITH OTHERS.
IT'S THE VOICE.
HE SAID, BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK.
HE SAID, IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU HEAR PEOPLE JUST QUOTED,
JUST OPEN THE DOOR,
BUT HE SAYS, HEAR MY VOICE.
SO THE PROPHETIC BRINGS THE VOICE OF GOD THROUGH US
INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.
APRIL: YOU KNOW, I CAN THINK OF THAT SCRIPTURE,
IT REMINDS ME OF MY DAD BEFORE HE WAS SAVED AT 17.
HIS FRIEND, WHO WAS THAT PERSON ON THE STREET
THAT ENCOURAGED HIM TO KNOW JESUS.
DADDY ALWAYS SAID, NO, NO, NO.
AND THEN ONE NIGHT HE WAS WALKING HOME BY HIMSELF
AND HE SAID, GOD, IF YOU'RE REAL,
IF YOU REALLY WILL ANSWER ME, I'LL SERVE YOU.
THAT ONE MAN BROUGHT HIM TO CHURCH AND HE GOT SAVED.
BUT IT WAS BECAUSE ONE MAN CHOSE TO KEEP SAYING,
YOU KNOW, GOD LOVES YOU.
HE'S GOT A PLAN FOR YOU.
HE PULLED OUT THE GIFTINGS ON THE INSIDE OF HIM.
GREG: SO GOOD. SO TRUE.
DOROTHY: WHAT ARE SOME STORIES WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE STREETS
WITNESSING TO PEOPLE, EVANGELIZING?
GREG: WELL, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOUSTON
EARLIER AND MONTROSE AVENUE.
WE'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND AS WE'RE OUT
JUST DOING SOME STREET MINISTRY, AND WE'RE WALKING DOWN,
THERE'S TWO GUYS SITTING ON THE BUS STATION,
BUS STOP BENCH THERE, AND I FELT LIKE
THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, SPEAK TO THEM.
YOU KNOW, SAY SOMETHING.
ASK THEM IF THEY NEED A RIDE.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, OF COURSE, THEY NEED A RIDE.
THEY'RE SITTING ON THE BUS STATION,
THEY'RE WAITING FOR A RIDE.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
SO I KEPT WALKING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED
I JUST WALKED OUT OF THE SPIRIT.
NOW, IF YOU CAN WALK IN THE SPIRIT,
YOU CAN WALK OUT OF THE SPIRIT.
AND SO I TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK AND SAID,
DO YOU GUYS NEED A RIDE?
THEY SAID, MAN, WE DO.
THE BUS, LAST BUS JUST LEFT.
THEY MISSED IT.
SO WE TURNED AROUND,
WE WERE WALKING THEM BACK TO THE CAR,
AND HOLY SPIRIT TOLD ME TO SAY TO THE GUY
THAT I WAS WITH, TO TELL HIM,
TO TELL HIM THAT HE HAD BITTERNESS IN HIS HEART.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THERE'S A CONVERSATION PIECE.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO I DO THAT?
SO I WENT AROUND THE WHOLE, HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING,
STARTED TALKING TO HIM.
AND FINALLY I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
YOU MIGHT HAVE BITTERNESS IN YOUR HEART.
AND HE YELLED AT ME AND SCREAMED AT ME.
HE WAS MAD AT ME.
STAGE TWO.
WE'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.
THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS, TELL HIM HE HAS
BITTERNESS IN HIS HEART.
AND I TRIED TO GO AROUND THE WHOLE NICE THING,
THUS SAYETH THE LORD.
AND HE YELLED AND SCREAMED AT ME AGAIN.
HE WAS MAD.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT'S OBVIOUS HE HAS BITTERNESS.
THE THIRD TIME THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID,
TELL HIM HE HAS BITTERNESS IN HIS HEART.
SO I SAID, YOU HAVE BITTERNESS IN YOUR HEART.
HE BROKE.
HE WEPT.
I MEAN, STARTED JUST WEEPING ON THE STREETS
ON MY SHOULDER.
LONG STORY SHORT, HE SAID, HEY, I'M IN TROUBLE.
HE SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO LIVE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO WORK.
I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO DO ANY OF THESE THINGS,
GO TO CHURCH.
AND SO SOME PEOPLE WALKED UP
THAT WERE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS WITH US,
AND LO AND BEHOLD, THE GUY GAVE HIM SOMEWHERE TO LIVE.
HE GAVE HIM A JOB, AND HE TOOK HIM TO CHURCH
THE NEXT MORNING.
BUT HIS STORY WAS THIS.
HIS MOTHER WAS A MISSIONARY, AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS GO
ON MISSIONS TRIPS, AND SHE WAS NEVER AT HOME
AND NEVER TOOK THEM ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.
AND SO ONE SUNDAY SHE SAID, HEY, I'LL BE BACK
AT SUCH AND SUCH TIME AND WE WILL GO FOR A PICNIC.
YOU AND YOUR SISTER, WE'LL GO FOR A PICNIC.
MOM NEVER SHOWED UP, NEVER SHOWED UP,
NEVER SHOWED UP.
12:30, 12:40, 12:50,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SISTER SAID,
HEY, I'M JUST GOING TO GO ACROSS THE STREET
AND PLAY IN THE PARK.
AND SHE RUNS ACROSS THE STREET AND GETS HIT BY A CAR.
SHE'S DEAD.
MOM PULLS IN RIGHT AFTER THAT.
IF MOM WOULD HAVE -- IN HIS HEART, IF MOM WOULD HAVE
BEEN THERE AT 12, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
AND IN THAT ONE MOMENT, THAT VOICE OF THE LORD,
THAT ONE MOMENT, HE GOT LITERALLY SET FREE.
THE NEXT MORNING DOWN IN THE NINTH, THE FOURTH WARD,
I THINK IT IS THERE, HE WAS AT A CHURCH.
I WENT DOWN TO SEE HIM AND HE WAS GREETING AT THE DOOR
AND JUST, HE GOT TOTALLY INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH.
AND THEY CALLED FOR SOMEBODY TO GO ON THE SUPER BUS
TO GO OUT AND PICK UP CHILDREN.
AND HE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I SAID, WELL, I'M JUST STANDING HERE.
HE SAID, HERE, YOU GREET, I'M GOING TO GO
WIN CHILDREN FOR JESUS.
SO TOTALLY GOT DELIVERED AND SET FREE.
JONI: WOW.
SO AMAZING.
GREG: YEAH.
REBECCA: I TOLD YOU THE STORIES ARE SO GOOD.
I WANTED YOU TO SHARE THE STORY WITH YOU
AND YOUR FATHER,
THAT PRODIGAL SON MOMENT WITH THAT RECONCILIATION,
WHERE HE WELCOMED YOU WITH HIS ARMS BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD.
GREG: WOW. YEAH.
SO I WAS IN THE LAST STINT OF MY DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS SEPARATED,
I WAS JUST LOST.
AND I WAS IN A TWO-WEEK BINGE.
I'D JUST GONE TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TO TRY TO GET A JOB
AND GOT MORE ADDICTED THERE AND JUST INTO IT.
TWO WEEKS OUT, I'M, IN ESSENCE, HOMELESS.
I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO STAY OF MY OWN.
AND I JUST WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND JUST HAD
THIS STRONG IMPRESSION,
PROBABLY THROUGH MY MOM'S PRAYERS,
I NEED TO CALL MY DAD AND NEEDED TO CALL HIM
AT THE SHOE STORE WHERE HE WAS
IN NAPLES, FLORIDA.
AND SO I CALLED HIM UP AND HE SAID, MEET ME
IN THE BACK ALLEY.
AND I THOUGHT, OH, BOY, THAT DOESN'T SOUND
TOO GOOD, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, HERE'S A GUY WHO'S TOTALED CARS, STOLEN MONEY,
I MEAN, EVERYTHING.
AND SO I WENT.
AND WHEN I GOT THERE, NERVOUS AND UNCERTAIN
WHAT I WAS GOING TO EXPERIENCE,
MY DAD WAS STANDING THERE WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES,
AND HE WRAPPED ME AND JUST WRAPPED AROUND ME
AND KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK AND JUST HELD ME RIGHT THERE.
AND HE TOLD ME, HE SAID, GREG, WE CAN'T HELP YOU,
BUT WE WILL FIND YOU HELP.
AND AT THAT MOMENT, THAT WAS MY PRODIGAL SON EXPERIENCE.
IS THAT I LITERALLY LIVED THAT OUT WITH MY DAD
AND COMING BACK TO HIM AND EMBRACING ME.
AND I THINK THAT WAS A HUGE, EVEN BEFORE --
I WASN'T SAVED YET, BUT I THINK THAT WAS
THE ENTRANCE DOOR INTO SALVATION.
JONI: WOW. THAT'S GREAT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT SALVATION
AND, YOU KNOW, DESTINY AND ALL OF THAT,
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT YESTERDAY, IS THAT PEOPLE
PRAY THE SALVATION PRAYER, RIGHT?
AND IF THEY DIE, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO HEAVEN, RIGHT?
GREG: RIGHT.
JONI: BUT THEY DON'T SURRENDER FOR
THEIR DESTINY ON EARTH.
THEY DON'T SURRENDER.
THEY DON'T SAY, OKAY, GOD, HERE I AM, TAKE MY LIFE.
WHEN WAS THAT MOMENT FOR YOU?
GREG: YEAH, THAT MOMENT FOR ME WAS WHEN I GOT
DROPPED OFF AT OUTREACH MINISTRIES OF ALABAMA.
MY PARENTS HAD DRIVEN ME UP AND WERE
STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
I TOLD MY MOTHER, I SAID, I'LL GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM,
BUT DON'T YOU DARE THINK I'M GOING
IN THE MINISTRY.
I MEAN, I JUST WASN'T THERE.
BUT THEY DROPPED ME OFF.
JONI: AND THAT'S THE ONE THING YOU NEVER SAY, FOLKS.
YOU NEVER TELL GOD WHAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO.
GREG: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND SO IT WAS A, I GOT DROPPED OFF ON A SATURDAY
AND IT WAS A TUESDAY,
I WAS LYING IN MY BUNK BED AND I DID NOT KNOW
THE PRAYER TO PRAY.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE.
I DIDN'T KNOW JOHN 3:16.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
AND I JUST SAID, I NEED YOUR HELP.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, TRANSFORMATION CAME
IN THE ROOM.
EVERYTHING STARTED TO SHIFT.
THEN I REALIZED, YOU KNOW, THE HOLY SPIRIT'S A HELPER.
SO I GUESS HELP WOULD BE A SHORT TERM
OF HIS NAME, RIGHT?
AND A HOLY SPIRIT ENCOUNTER IN THE MIDST OF THAT.
BUT IT WAS THERE, I WAS IN A PLACE,
VERY FORTUNATE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE SELF-WILL
OR DIDN'T HAVE GOOD DECISIONS IN MY LIFE.
I WAS IN A DISCIPLESHIP ZONE.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU SURRENDER AND SUBMIT TO
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, RACHEL, AND YOU START
GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, OR A SPIRITUAL COVERING
IN YOUR LIFE, WHEN YOU SUBMIT THERE,
THAT TEACHES YOU AND TRAINS YOU TO SUBMIT TO GOD.
AND SO THAT PROCESS ALLOWED ME TO DEVELOP
A GOOD, SOLID FOUNDATION OF SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORD OBEDIENCE HAS
THREE MIDDLE LETTERS AS DIE.
AND THAT PROGRAM LEARNED ME -- TAUGHT ME
AND I LEARNED HOW TO DIE TO MYSELF.
AND SO WHEN IT CAME TO THE TIME OF OBEDIENCE,
DYING TO MYSELF WASN'T AN ISSUE.
IT WAS SOMETHING I KNEW HOW TO DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE SURRENDER COMES IN.
JONI: HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK THOSE THAT
ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION,
HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT GOD BE
ATTACHED TO THAT STORY OF FREEDOM?
GREG: 100%. ABSOLUTE.
JONI: TALK ABOUT THAT.
GREG: YEAH, IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST
HAS SET US FREE, RIGHT?
AND THERE YOU ARE ONLY ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
TO HELP MEDICATE OR TO HELP ELIMINATE
SOME OF THE PAIN THERE.
IT'S REALLY -- SIN IS LIKE AN ICEBERG.
JUST 10% OF IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WATER,
90% IS INSIDE OF US.
AND THIS WENT BACK TO, COMING OFF OF THE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL,
ALLOWED THE LORD TO PROCESS, TO ACCESS,
TO GET INTO THE DEEPER ISSUES IN MY LIFE,
THE INSECURITIES, THE JEALOUSIES,
THE LOW SELF-ESTEEM,
JUST THE CHALLENGES IN LIFE THERE.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THERE
CHRIST, ONCE HE GETS THROUGH THAT,
THERE'S A DEEPER WORK HE HAS TO DO INSIDE OF US.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CALL,
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE ANYMORE,
IT'S CALLED A LEVEL OF DELIVERANCE.
YOU KNOW, JOEL CHAPTER 2, CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD
AND YOU SHALL BE NOT SAVED, BUT DELIVERED.
JONI: THAT'S GOOD.
WOULD YOU TAKE A MOMENT, GREG,
AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW THE LORD,
WOULD YOU JUST PRAY A PRAYER,
LET US REPEAT AFTER YOU?
GREG: YES, WOULD LOVE TO.
LET'S PRAY.
I WANT YOU TO PRAY THIS. LORD JESUS,
ALL: LORD JESUS,
GREG: TODAY
ALL: TODAY
GREG: COULD BE THAT DAY FOR ME
ALL: COULD BE THAT DAY FOR ME
GREG: THAT I COULD BE BORN AGAIN,
ALL: THAT I COULD BE BORN AGAIN,
GREG: AND I COULD BE MADE SET FREE.
ALL: AND I COULD BE MADE SET FREE.
GREG: AND, JESUS,
ALL: AND, JESUS,
GREG: I JUST HAVE TO TRUST YOU RIGHT NOW.
ALL: I JUST HAVE TO TRUST YOU RIGHT NOW.
GREG: AND WELCOME YOU
ALL: AND WELCOME YOU
GREG: TO DO THE WORK THAT ONLY YOU CAN DO.
ALL: TO DO THE WORK THAT ONLY YOU CAN DO.
GREG: I THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONIES I'VE HEARD.
ALL: I THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONIES I'VE HEARD.
GREG: AND I BELIEVE THAT CAN HAPPEN IN MY LIFE.
ALL: AND I BELIEVE THAT CAN HAPPEN IN MY LIFE.
GREG: SO WHEN I ASK YOU
ALL: SO WHEN I ASK YOU
GREG: FORGIVE ME
ALL: FORGIVE ME
GREG: OF ALL MY SINS,
ALL: OF ALL MY SINS,
GREG: WRONGDOINGS,
ALL: WRONGDOINGS,
GREG: THE ONES I REMEMBER
ALL: THE ONES I REMEMBER
GREG: AND THE ONES I CAN'T.
ALL: AND THE ONES I CAN'T.
GREG: AND I TRUST YOU
ALL: AND I TRUST YOU
GREG: TO FORGIVE ME
ALL: TO FORGIVE ME
GREG: OF MY SINS.
ALL: OF MY SINS.
GREG: AND BRING SALVATION TO MY LIFE.
ALL: AND BRING SALVATION TO MY LIFE.
GREG: IN JESUS' NAME.
ALL: IN JESUS' NAME.
GREG: AMEN.
ALL: AMEN.
JONI: AMEN.
WE'LL STAY RIGHT THERE.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH GREG RIGHT AFTER THIS.
♪♪
JONI: SOME BOOKS DESERVE TO BE HELD,
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GET YOURS TODAY FOR JUST $29.99
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AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD AWAITS YOU.
♪♪
JONI: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BACK.
REBECCA, YOU SAY THERE ARE MORE STORIES WE HADN'T HEARD.
REBECCA: YEAH.
SO I THINK THE ONE ABOUT THE GUY THAT YOU FOUND,
I THINK HE WAS DRINKING,
AND YOU HELPED HIM RECONCILE WITH HIS FAMILY.
GREG: YES, YES, YES, YES.
THAT WAS IN NEW ORLEANS.
DOROTHY KNOWS NEW ORLEANS IS DOWN IN THE --
REBECCA: THE BAYOU.
GREG: DOWN BY THE ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL DOWN THERE.
AND SO THIS GUY WAS BEING MINISTERED TO
BY SOME OF OUR TEENAGERS WE HAD ON THE STREETS.
AND HE JUST KIND OF FROZE, JUST LITERALLY FROZE.
SO THEY CALLED ME DOWN AND I WENT DOWN,
I SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON?
HE SAID, HE CAN'T WALK.
HE CAN'T MOVE.
AND HIS NAME WAS KANIZ, AND HE'S GOT A TRENCH COAT ON.
HE'S BEEN ON THE STREETS IN NEW ORLEANS FOR SIX MONTHS.
HE HAS A FAMILY, HE HAS A WIFE, HE HAS PARENTS.
BUT HE'S 60 MILES AWAY FROM HOME.
HE GOT DRUNK ONE NIGHT AND STAYED THERE FOR SIX MONTHS,
AND NOW HE'S LOCKED,
HE SAID, I CAN'T MOVE.
I SAID, ARE YOU SURE?
HE SAID, YEAH.
THIS MAY SOUND STRANGE, BUT STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
I FELT LIKE THE LORD SAID, JUST GO DOWN AND PRAY
FOR HIS FEET, AND UNLOCK THE SHACKLES.
SO I PRAYED FOR HIS FEET AND UNLOCKED THE SHACKLES
AND WE STARTED WALKING.
I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU HOME.
JONI: AND THOSE WERE SPIRITUAL SHACKLES.
GREG: EXACTLY. THANK YOU.
SPIRITUAL SHACKLES.
AND SO WE STARTED WALKING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT
AND HE STOPPED AT A BIG GARBAGE CAN OUT IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT
BEHIND JACK'S BREWERY THERE.
AND I SAID, NO, NO, COME ON, KANIZ,
WE GOT TO KEEP MOVING, GOT TO KEEP MOVING.
AND HE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE.
AND HE TOOK OUT A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND A CAN OF,
A TALLBOY OF BEER, ONE OF THOSE BIG CANS,
AND HE PUT THEM IN THE GARBAGE CAN.
I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS GUY'S REALLY GETTING
SET FREE, YOU KNOW.
A HOMELESS GUY THAT HAS ALCOHOL, YOU KNOW,
AND HE'S THROWING IT AWAY.
BUT I REACHED IN, HAD A WORD OF WISDOM COME IN.
THE LORD SAID, POUR IT OUT BECAUSE THE NEXT HOMELESS GUY
IS GOING TO THANK GOD FOR IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND SO WE GOT HIM 60 MILES AWAY TO HIS PARENTS' HOUSE,
AND WE'RE GOING BACK.
IT'S CAJUN COUNTRY AND THERE'S THIS NEW WORLD
TO ME BACK HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DRIVING IN, THERE'S ONE HOUSE
WITH A LIGHT ON, AND IT WAS HIS PARENTS' HOUSE.
AND WE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.
JONI: HOW OLD WAS HE?
GREG: OH, KANIZ WOULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY MID-20S,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE PUSHING 30.
BUT THAT'S WHERE HE WANTED TO GO, IS BACK TO
HIS PARENTS' HOUSE.
AND SO WE PULLED IN.
WE GET TO THE DOOR, KNOCK ON THE DOOR,
AND HIS DAD PULLS US IN AND HE'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
HE'S CAJUN.
AND SO OPEN UP THE DOOR,
AND I HEARD HIS MOTHER ON THE PHONE AND SHE SAYS,
HE'S HOME. HE'S HOME.
AND SHE SAID, HOW? 'ÇAUSE I KNOW HE'S HOME.
SHE SAID, A WHITE MAN BROUGHT HIM HOME.
THAT'S HOW I KNOW IT'S THE LORD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
GREG: IT WAS A NEAT THING OF GETTING HIM THERE,
BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WE HAD THIS RELATIONSHIP, EVEN AMONGST
A RELATIONAL TENSION, IT WAS CONNECTED
AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD JUST FILLED THE ROOM.
IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL TIME.
JONI: OH, WOW.
RACHEL: HAS THERE EVER BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU GAVE
A PROPHETIC WORD, OR DID PROPHETIC EVANGELISM
WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS STRUGGLING WITH
THEIR IDENTITY, LIKE LGBTQ OR TRANSGENDER?
LIKE, IS THERE A STORY THAT COMES TO MIND?
GREG: YEAH.
SO I WAS IN A SITUATION SOME YEARS AGO AND I GOT
A PHONE CALL AND I WAS A YOUTH PASTOR AND IT WAS
THE RESCUE MISSION.
AND THE RESCUE MISSION CALLED ME AND SAID,
HEY, THERE'S A GUY DOWN HERE WHO'S STRUGGLING.
HE'S GOING THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME DOWN AND MINISTER TO HIM?
I SAID, WELL, SURE, I'LL GO DOWN THERE.
AND SO WE WENT DOWN, SET AN APPOINTMENT, WENT DOWN
AND MET WITH HIM.
AND I TALKED WITH HIM A WHILE AND HE TOLD ME THAT
HE DOESN'T DRINK ANYMORE, DOESN'T TAKE DRUGS ANYMORE,
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ANYMORE.
AND I'M LIKE, WELL, YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE FREE.
AND THIS IS SOME YEARS AGO.
HE SAID, NO.
HE SAID, I'VE GOT A PROBLEM THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH.
IT MIGHT KIND OF MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.
I SAID, WHAT'S THAT?
HE SAID, I HAVE CRAVINGS FOR MEN.
I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEN.
AND SO I'M HOMOSEXUAL.
AND I SAID, WELL, LET ME GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AS THIS WAS YEARS AGO.
AND SO I WENT BACK AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, HEY,
INVITE HIM TO CHURCH WITH YOU SUNDAY NIGHT
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PREACH.
SO WE WENT DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO PICK HIM UP.
AND WHEN I GOT THERE, HIS MOTHER WAS THERE,
ABSENT FATHER, WHICH IS A BIG ISSUE.
AND HER NEIGHBORS WERE THERE, AND THEY'RE FROM
THE SOUTH OF WHERE WE'RE LIVING.
AND SO WE GOT IN A CIRCLE.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO PRAY THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CHURCH.
AND HOLY SPIRIT SAID, CALL PATRICK INTO
THE MIDDLE OF THE CIRCLE.
AND THERE'S A GOOD GROUP OF OUR YOUTH GROUP
WITH US, TOO.
AND HE HAD A RECEDING HAIRLINE.
IT WAS HOT IN SUMMER IN ALABAMA, AUGUST.
HE'S SWEATING ON THE HEAD.
AND AT THAT TIME WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE AIDS CAME FROM.
YOUE REMEMBER THOSE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE WERE
SPRAYING LYSOL AND STUFF.
THIS IS YEARS AGO.
AND CALL HIM INTO THE MIDDLE AND
HE'S SWEATING ON HIS HEAD.
AND THE LORD SAID, KISS HIM ON THE FOREHEAD LIKE
A FATHER WOULD KISS HIS SON TO, YOU KNOW, TO GO
TO SLEEP BECAUSE HE'D NEVER HAD A FATHER
KISS HIM GOOD-NIGHT.
AND SO I LEANED OVER, NOT KNOWING
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN,
AND I KISSED HIM.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, HE BROKE, GOT TOTALLY DELIVERED,
SET FREE, DIDN'T GO TO CHURCH WITH US,
STEPPED INTO HIS MANHOOD, WENT HOME WITH
HIS MOTHER, SET FREE.
JUST EVERYTHING CHANGED IN THAT MOMENT.
DOROTHY: WOW.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE IN NEW ORLEANS,
ON BOURBON STREET AND THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER,
WHAT HAPPENED WITH HER?
GREG: OKAY.
YEAH, THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER.
AND SO WE WERE DOING AN OUTREACH FOR MARDI GRAS,
AND WE DO THAT EVERY YEAR.
WE TAKE PEOPLE DOWN TO DO STREET MINISTRY.
DOROTHY: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY DO THAT,
BY THE WAY.
MARDI GRAS?
GREG: YEAH, WE JUST DID.
WE HAD 130 PEOPLE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO DOWN THERE
ON THE STREET.
DOROTHY: UNBELIEVABLE.
GREG: YEAH. SO I'M STRUGGLING THAT DAY.
I'M FACILITATING A LOT OF MINISTRY.
I'M SURE ALL OF US KNOW WHAT THAT CAN BE LIKE.
AND I FIND MYSELF WONDERING,
DO I EVEN HAVE A PROPHETIC GIFT, YOU KNOW.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WALK
ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL, SEVERALLY, WILL GIVE YOU,
INDIVIDUALLY GIVE YOU GIFTS.
BUT I'M STRUGGLING WITH IT.
AND I SAID, LORD, I JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT I HAVE
A PROPHETIC GIFT, YOU KNOW.
AND SO WE WENT OUT ON THE STREETS THAT DAY
AND I'M WALKING UP BOURBON STREET.
IT'S PACKED WITH PEOPLE AND CROWDED, AND I SEE
A YOUNG GIRL OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET
AND A GUY WITH HER, AND SHE'S DRUNK.
I MEAN, SHE'S DRUNKER THAN COOTER BROWN'S TWIN SISTER.
SHE IS. SHE'S BAD.
BAD, CAN'T STAND UP.
AND SO I WALK OVER TO WHERE IT'S AT,
AND I LOOKED AT THE GUY AND SAID, I'M A PASTOR.
DO YOU MIND IF I PRAY FOR HER?
AND SHE JUST FELL TO THE GROUND.
AND HE DID THIS NUMBER.
SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, HE HAS A CATHOLIC,
YOU KNOW, BACKGROUND.
AND I WENT DOWN NOT KNOWING WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
AND THEN I JUST HEARD THE LORD SAY TO HER,
AND WANT ME TO SAY TO HER, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
I'M SO SORRY THAT YOUR FATHER WAS SO HARSH ON YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOUR FATHER'S A PASTOR AT A CERTAIN CHURCH
AND STARTED GOING THROUGH ALL THIS PAIN
AND SORROW THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED WITH THAT.
AND SHE IS SO INEBRIATED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
SHE TURNS AROUND, SHE POPS UP AND SHE'S TOTALLY SOBER.
SHE SAID, HOW DID YOU KNOW MY DAD WAS A PASTOR?
HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS HAPPENED TO ME,
THAT HAPPENED TO ME?
I SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW, AND THEN THAT'S HOW I GOT TO ENTER.
THAT'S THE COOL THING ABOUT THE PROPHETIC,
WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT THEN WE CAN INTRODUCE THEM TO THE ONE WHO DOES KNOW.
AND SO SHE SOBERED UP, GOT SET FREE,
AND WALKED AWAY FROM IT.
DOROTHY: PRAISE GOD.
JONI: SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS NOW,
THIS PROPHETIC EVANGELISM?
GREG: I WOULD SAY, IT WOULD GO BACK TO PROBABLY
THE LATE '90S.
LATE '90S, YEAH.
JONI: AND SO FOR PEOPLE WATCHING THAT WOULD LIKE
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS --
GREG: SURE.
JONI: HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE THEM?
GREG: I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU FIRST TO REALLY PRAY
AND ASK GOD TO LEAD YOU TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S SPIRIT-LED EVANGELISM,
THAT'S PROPHETIC IN AND OF ITSELF.
PROPHETIC IS NOT ALWAYS SAYING,
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST DOING.
IT'S BEING OBEDIENT TO THE VOICE.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT JOHN CHAPTER 4.
YOU SAID IT EARLIER, JONI.
YOU SAID ABOUT CONVERSATIONS AND THESE,
AND THAT'S WHAT JESUS HAD WITH THE WOMAN AT THE WELL,
WAS A CONVERSATION.
AND HE'S SITTING AND HE'S WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME.
AND SO HE SITS DOWN AT THE WELL, THE LADY COMES UP,
HE ASKED HER A QUESTION.
HE DIDN'T START RIGHT OFF WITH,
DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
DO YOU KNOW JOHN 3:16?
HE DIDN'T DO ALL THAT STUFF,
JUST A CONVERSATION.
AND HE GOT HER INTEREST, HE GOT HER INVOLVED.
AND THEN SHE ASKED HIM IN VERSE 10,
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
SHE ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WOULD YOU
GET THIS WATER FROM?
AND IN VERSE 10, HE SAYS, IF YOU KNEW --
NOW, THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE.
HE SAID, IF YOU KNEW WHO IT WAS WAS TALKING TO YOU,
YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM.
THIRD PERSON.
HE SAID, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM AND HE WOULD
HAVE GIVEN YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK.
I'M THINKING, WAIT A SECOND.
THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE HERE.
WHY DIDN'T HE SAY YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME
AND I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU?
BECAUSE THAT'S THE KEY.
IS LETTING THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY
SPEAK THROUGH YOU.
THE ONE WHO DWELLS INSIDE OF YOU AND RESIDES INSIDE OF YOU.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE WALKED AWAY THINKING,
I SHOULD HAVE, COULD HAVE, WISH I WOULD HAVE
SAID SOMETHING, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
AND THEN WHAT DOES HE ASK HIM?
GO CALL YOUR HUSBAND.
MAKES NO SENSE TO THE WHOLE SCENARIO OF THE SCENE.
AND SHE SAID, I DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND.
HE SAID, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU'VE HAD FIVE.
AND THE ONE YOU'RE WITH RIGHT NOW IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND.
JONI: THAT'S WHAT REALLY GOT HER.
GREG: THAT'S WHAT GOT HER.
JONI: BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
GREG: THAT'S RIGHT.
JONI: WOW.
GREG: YEAH. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
AND THAT TRUTH, AND ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.
RACHEL: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO'S NEW
AND I GUESS PRACTICING LIKE THE PROPHETIC
AND MAYBE DOESN'T FEEL CONFIDENT OR LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS
IF I DON'T SAY THE RIGHT THING OR IT'S NOT ACCURATE?
GREG: OKAY, THAT'S SO GOOD.
LET'S LOOK AT PROPHECY ACCORDING TO
1 CORINTHIANS 14.
THE END RESULT OF PROPHECY IS TO EDIFY, COMFORT,
AND EXHORT.
AND WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT HERE AT THIS TABLE
WITHOUT EVEN BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IF YOU'RE FAITHFUL IN LITTLE THINGS,
HE'LL MAKE YOU STEWARD OF BIGGER THINGS.
SO IF YOU TEND TO SAY, I WANT TO BE A MORE
EDIFYING, COMFORTING, AND ENCOURAGING PERSON
IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, AND JUST DOING THE RIGHT THINGS
AND BEING KIND, WHICH LEADS PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE.
THERE'S ACTIONS THAT WE CAN DO,
JUST LITTLE THINGS WE CAN DO.
AND IF WE'RE FAITHFUL IN THOSE, THEN WE'LL BECOME
STRONGER IN THOSE.
SO JUST USE IT AS YOU CAN.
HERE'S ANOTHER GOOD ONE.
WALKING DOWN THE STREET ONE NIGHT,
AND WE'RE AT THIS OUTREACH, AND THERE'S
A MAN WALKING IN FRONT OF ME, AND OBVIOUSLY
HE'S BEEN CRIPPLED BY A STROKE
AND HE'S KIND OF STRUGGLING.
HIS BACKPACK'S HANGING OFF OF HIS SHOULDER.
AND I'M THINKING, THIS IS IT.
THIS IS AWESOME.
I'M WAITING FOR THE AUCTION AND WE'RE WALKING,
AND WE GET UP AND I'M FEELING FOR HIM.
I CAN FEEL HIS DISCOMFORT.
I CAN FEEL HIS PAIN.
I CAN FEEL HIS SORROW.
AND SO I'M WALKING UP,
BUT I FELT NO UNCTION TO PRAY FOR HIM.
AND SO I KEPT WALKING.
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
HE SAID, IF YOU CAN'T HEAL HIM, AT LEAST HELP HIM.
AND JESUS, IN ACTS CHAPTER 10, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT
JESUS BEING ANOINTED, SAID HE WENT AROUND DOING GOOD
AND HEALING ALL MANNER OF DISEASES.
SO JUST GO OUT AND DO GOOD, BE GOOD, DO GOOD,
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD,
AND HE'LL SEE THAT HE CAN TRUST YOU AND ENABLE YOU
WITH GREATER THINGS.
JONI: AND SO WHAT DID YOU DO?
GREG: SO I TURNED AROUND.
THANK YOU.
I TURNED AROUND AND I SAID, EXCUSE ME, SIR.
I SAID, WOULD IT HELP YOU IF I PUT YOUR BACKPACK STRAP
ON YOUR SHOULDER?
AND YOU COULD SEE RELIEF COME ALL OVER HIM.
BECAUSE WHO KNOWS HOW LONG HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WALK.
HE SAID, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WOULD HELP ME.
IF YOU WOULD DO THAT, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
AND YOU COULD SEE THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IN HIM
AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE HOPE COME UP INSIDE OF HIM.
I PUT THE STRAP ON HIM.
JONI: THAT'S SO GOOD.
I WONDER IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WATCHING RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU NEED HEALING IN YOUR BODY.
I WONDER IF YOU WOULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT, GREG,
JUST AS YOU FEEL LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND PRAY FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS HEALING RIGHT NOW.
GREG: LORD, I THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON IN EACH BODY BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TEMPLE.
AND, LORD, I PRAY GRACE OVER THE TEMPLE RIGHT NOW,
THE SAME, AS YOU SAID, CAN TEAR IT DOWN IN THREE DAYS
AND RAISE IT BACK UP.
YOU CARE ABOUT EVERY BODY AND EVERYBODY.
AND SO, LORD, I'M PRAYING FOR NOW
THE ONE THAT HAS THAT KINK AND THAT DAMAGE
IN THEIR NECK, LORD, THAT IS CAUSING THEM RESTRAINT
AND HARDSHIP AND DIFFICULTY.
AND, LORD, THEY'RE IN CONSTANT CHRONIC PAIN.
I SPEAK TO CHRONIC PAIN RIGHT NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME
OF JESUS CHRIST, BE RELEASED FROM THE BODY.
AND, LORD, I PRAY FOR THE ONE THAT HAS THE LOWER BACK
AND THE ONE THAT HAS THE LEFT SHOULDER,
AND THE ONE THAT THEIR EYES ARE JUST GROWING DIM,
LITERALLY GROWING DIM.
LORD, I SPEAK A RELEASE OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO MINISTER HEALING, RESTORATION,
RENEWAL IN THEIR BODIES, EVEN IN THEIR SPIRITS, LORD.
FATHER, I PRAY FOR THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED
AT A YOUNG AGE AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT
THEY HAD SOMETHING HAPPEN TO THEM
AND CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER IT, LORD.
THAT YOU'LL GO AND YOU'LL TAKE THAT
DAM OUT OF THEM AND YOU'LL RELEASE THEM, LORD GOD,
INTO THE FULLNESS OF WHO AND WHAT
YOU'VE CALLED THEM TO DO AND TO BE.
SO, FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE HEALING OF THE LORD.
WE THANK YOU THAT YOUR WORD, YOUR PROPHETIC WORD,
RELEASES HEALING AND ALLOWS US TO
WALK IN FREEDOM.
IN JESUS' MIGHTY NAME, AMEN.
JONI: EVERYBODY SAID?
ALL: AMEN.
JONI: AMEN.
THE BOOK, TAKING IT TO THE STREETS.
WHO NEEDS TO READ IT?
GREG: EVERYBODY.
JONI: EVERYBODY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
JONI: ALL RIGHT.
GREG: IT'S JUST AN ENCOURAGING STORY.
AND THE VERY LAST STORY IS WHEN I MISSED IT.
I WAS STANDING ON BOURBON STREET.
CANAL STREET WAS DOWN TO MY LEFT.
I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL,
AND THERE'S A STRIP CLUB ACROSS THE STREET,
AND I SEE THESE SEVEN BUSINESSMEN WALKING DOWN.
THEY HAVE BIG CIGARS, THEY'RE DRESSED NICE,
THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THEIR CONFERENCE.
AND FIVE OF THEM HAD WEDDING BANDS ON
AND THEY STOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT I WAS THERE.
NO IDEA I WAS THERE.
SO I'M EAVESDROPPING.
I'M DIALED IN TO THIS SITUATION.
AND ONE SAID TO THE OTHERS, HE SAID, WHY DON'T
WE GET A HOTEL ROOM HERE TONIGHT IN CASE WE SLIP UP
OVER HERE TONIGHT?
HE HAS A WEDDING BAND ON.
ABOUT A STRIP CLUB AND A HOTEL.
YOU GET THE PICTURE?
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID TO ME, TELL THEM,
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS CALL YOUR WIVES AND SEE WHAT
THEY WOULD WANT YOU TO DO?
AND I THOUGHT, OH DEAR, GOODNESS, THAT IS SO GOOD.
BUT THAT I JUST -- I COULDN'T PULL MYSELF TO IT.
I WALKED AWAY, JONI.
I WALKED AWAY AND WENT TO MY HOTEL ROOM,
FELL ON THE BED, STARTED TO CRY, STARTED TO WEEP.
AND I WAS HOPING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS JUST GOING
TO PAT ME ON THE BACK AND SAID, MAMA SAID THERE'D BE
DAYS LIKE THIS.
BUT HE DIDN'T.
HE SAID, DO YOU REALIZE THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY OF
FIVE MARRIAGES THAT COULD BE DESTROYED
BECAUSE YOU DID NOT SAY THAT?
AND THAT CHANGED SOMETHING IN MY LIFE.
CHANGED SOMETHING DRASTIC.
JONI: WOW.
GREG: I LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY MORE PEOPLE,
THAT NEED IT.
JONI: SO MANY.
♪♪
JONI: WELL, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
BUT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT
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♪♪