August 2011

Dear Partners:

I wanted to give a report on the book project.  The teaching C.D.’s from the Phoenix ministers meeting, are very close to being transcribed.  We are getting very close to printing.  Thank you all of you for your help and support!

I wanted to write again to you about John 4:10-14 and John 7:38-39.  We will look at the difference between the river of living water in you and rivers of water for service.

In John 4,  Jesus says by and through the Holy Ghost that in the new birth the believer can drink from the well inside of Him.

Years ago I knew a Assembly of God minister Rev. F. C. Drake.  He had started and established 7 churches.  They are all still going today.  In His ministry, Jesus had appeared to Him, Angels would appear and assist him.  As he grew into his late 80’s around 88 years old, he had congestive heart failure.  Sometimes he would have Sister Drake call us to come and pray for him.  Once when we were talking, he told me during his ministry 3 people were raised from the dead, blindness, and deafness were healed.  The he asked the question to me, “How come God would do all those things through him, but yet not heal him of congestive heart failure?”  I knew the answer because of some things Brother Hagin had taught, but I was a young man.  I did not qualify to bring correction to this older minister.

The answer is this:  Brother Drake had learned to flow with the Holy Ghost in the river, but he thought he should be able to drink or receive from the river that flowed through him.  Do you remember Brother Hagin telling  those in the Healing Revival that when they were gone he would still be around, because they were building on the Gifts of the Spirit, but he was building on the Word of God!

Remember the letters wrote after time when we spoke of I Cor. 12:28.  A list of Ministry Gifts, special endowments, meaning there are those in specific area’s that will have greater success.  But in Mark 9:23 Jesus said, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”  All means ALL!!!!  So this verse is talking about anyone who will believe the Word of God and act upon it, can have whatsoever!

So the River or flow of the Holy Ghost through you or me is for the Body of Christ and Humanity.  Maybe some of you can relate to this.  I have had symptoms in my physical body of pain or sickness and pray for someone sick, and they were healed by the Power of God.  That flow of the Power of God through me was for the people.  I had to stand on the Word of God for the symptoms to leave.  Or have another brother or sister who carries a healing flow minister to me.  I can drink from other’s river.

In 2 Kings 13:20-21 the Bible records that Elisha died and was buried.  The funeral procession saw enemies coming, so they tossed the body of a young man into the same sepulcher.  When the young man’s body touched the BONES of Elisha, it raised him up from the dead!!  He Stood-UP.

Now think about this, there was enough anointing left just in his bones to raise a dead man back to life.  Yet Elisha died, carrying that much anointing!  So how come that power couldn’t keep Elisha alive.  Couple of reasons, 1.  No one will live physically forever!  2.  The anointing upon Elisha was for the people, or the flow of the river was for others!

To My Partners:  The meetings at Benton City Washing, Pastor Stan & Linda Smith, October 2-6, 2011.  If possible I would be in those meetings this year!  

In His Service, 
Rev. Ricky Edwards