How strong is your identity? Have you noticed people who must prove themselves right in all their choices, starting with their church and political opinions, and even down to their tastes and preferences? This may seem like a strong identity, but if you craft it for yourself it will inevitably be weak, and therefore need a strong defense. Have you encountered other people who don’t feel the need to prove themselves right? Don’t they seem to be more secure and stable in their identity? If you know that you are held in the palm of my hand you can relax.

As I turned from being focused on theology to being focused on story, I soon recognized that the heart of the story is God touching our lives. In the Garden of Eden, He touched by walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden in the cool of the day. When Jesus taught, He touched by laying on hands and healing as He ministered in the streets. In revivalist healing crusades, it is the touch of the Holy Spirit that draws the soul to Christ and heals and transforms the body. So it is time for me to add to any theologically-focused teaching the opportunity for people to encounter Jesus directly by being touched by Him.

Is that not what the Toronto blessing is all about – being touched by the Holy Spirit? Is this not what Kathryn Kuhlman's and Oral Robert's healing services were all about? Is the same not true concerning John Wimber's, Bill Johnson's, Billy Graham's and Reinhard Bonnke's meetings, along with so many others which I could mention?

It is time we change our focus from studies about God to encounters with God! We do this by walking and living by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). This provides continuous ongoing encounter with our Heavenly Father. Not thinking about Him, but encountering Him. Remember, this is the COMMANDED LIFESTYLE, to live and walk by the Spirit. This is the way we are to live. This is the heavenly design. All else is a dead work (Hebrews 6:1,2).

So much of my teaching on earth referred to awareness. It was after I spoke to the people rather than before that I said let he who has ears to hear, let him hear. Wouldn’t you expect me to say this before my message? But you can hear things and not really hear them. The same concept applies to vision and I declared some to be blind who could see the light of day (but not the light of the Son). Have you ever had the experience of not being able to see what is right in front of you? You are immersed in an invisible spiritual realm.

How do you regard the Bible passages about the Pharisees? Are you glad that you are not like them in the same way that the Pharisee was glad that he was not like the humble sinner in prayer? You may not have applied to become a Pharisee. This was a short-lived sect and there are no longer any called by that name. Yet they were the dominant religious force in their generation as you are in yours. Those in the same positions are prone to the same faults and errors. On this basis, is there anything in my remarks to the Pharisees that could serve as a cautionary note for you?