John Paul Jackson*
John Paul Jackson is the founder of Streams Ministries International, an in-depth prophetic teaching ministry. A popular teacher and conference speaker, John Paul travels around the world teaching on "The Art of Hearing God," on dreams and visions, and on the realm of the supernatural. He has authored many books, developed numerous training courses and has appeared on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club, Benny Hinn's This Is Your Day broadcast, Cornerstone Television, Daystar Television, God Digital, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network and many other television broadcasts.
"Bonding With the Father"
Something happened several years ago that I will never forget. I set out to build a tree house for my son, Micah. This was not going to be an ordinary four-foot platform in a tree -- your "normal" tree house. No, this was going to be a multi-level, Swiss-Family-Robinson tree house extraordinaire.
After picking up enough lumber to build the Ark, I pulled into the driveway and thought, Okay, this is a big project and I only have a short time to do it. I started grabbing the two-by-fours four at a time, in a hurry to haul them off the truck and begin building. Suddenly, I looked up, and there was Micah, his eyes barely containing bubbling excitement that begged, "Dad, can I help?"
I'm thinking, But I have to hurry.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Are you building this for Micah or are you building this for yourself? If you're building this for Micah, then let him help you." I realized it was more important to have Micah help me than it was for him to play in a new tree house.
So I looked at my son and said, "Hey, Micah. I really need your help. Would you help me?"
Micah's face lit up as he shouted, "Oh, yes, Dad! Yes!"
I Have Something to Share With You . . . "
So, Micah picked up one end of a two-by-four, and I took the other end; we walked all the way across the yard and set it down. Then we went back to the truck. Micah picked up one end of another two-by-four, I took the other end; we walked across the yard again, and set it down. One by one we unloaded 52 two-by-fours and other pieces of lumber. Something happened between my son and me that day. We bonded. It was an incredibly intimate time that I will never forget.
As I reflected on the day, I heard the Lord ask, "John Paul, did you need Micah to help you carry those?"
"No," I answered.
"But you wanted to share something with him?" the Lord inquired.
"Yes," I answered again.
"That's just what I do with you. I can do many things without your help, but I have something to share with you."
Becoming One
It was then I realized that my Heavenly Father wanted my help. His desire was for me to be a part of what He was doing so I'd grow in intimacy, trust, and faith. It was about empowering me to follow His lead.
Suddenly, there was a divine paradigm shift in the way I viewed laying hands on the sick, the bound, the broken. Ministering to others was about more than just helping the person being ministered to. It was about God touching the person being healed, as well as God bonding with the person doing the praying. It was co-laboring together. It was about seeing what the Father was doing and imitating Him. It was an issue of bonding between Father and son.
It was about becoming one.
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
-- John 17:20, 21 NKJV
John Paul Jackson
Streams Ministries International
JUMP TO TOP
