somebody illuminate me please, just the facts, his words, if you please.
Hi Neil, and Aussiedler,
I have desisted from posting in greg violi threads because Greg Gordon requested we should. However, as the topic is back again, and I have met him (travelled with him, spoken with him, been prayed for by him, watched and heard him preach in person and online), I do want to add one thing which is largely lost from merely listening to him on audio or video.
This: that the CROSS of JESUS CHRIST is CENTRAL to his ministry. His belief in the power of God to deliver is 100% founded upon the word of God in the Bible, the work of Christ on the cross, and the power of the Holy Spirit through a totally surrendered life which is utterly Christ-centred.
Neil, Greg and his family used to live in Salem, Ohio. About six months ago they began to relocate their whole family (wife, four daughters, two sons-in-law, grandchildren), to Germany, as they believe God is leading them. Greg talks a LOT about love, and how if love is ruling, everything else is right. This, obviously, precludes holding on to any consciousness of being better than another, which is pride, or any other sign of pride.
Because of the pride attributed to Satan in respect of the Fall, Greg studied pride in the Bible intensively, and discovered it is a little-preached major biblical theme, which accompanies Jesus' compelling invitation to 'learn' of Him, in Matthew 11:28 - 30.
He preaches for variable lengths of time, according as the Spirit leads. He IS a 'preacher', but his PRAYER ministry takes far longer after every meeting. He will take time with each person who requests prayer, until he has worked through whatever the Lord brings to him in regard to that person's needs. The foundation of the prayer ministry is a willingness on the part of the person begin prayed for, to repent, and to forgive. (Who can argue with that?) As other matters come to his understanding, he brings them forward. He doesn't force anyone to be prayed for, or to accept deliverance. What he told me to expect after he'd prayed for me, turned out to be precisely correct. This man understands spiritual issues, and humbly offers himself to serve God in the area of ministry for which GOD has prepared him, and in which God leads him.
He does preach about the power and effect of cross in regard to sin in the human heart, as well as a clear focus on Jesus Christ Himself, and His promises of deliverance to mankind.
He tends not to prepare a written note of what he might say, but rather depends on the Spirit to lead him through the scriptures which the Lord wants to bring to the attention of those present. (This is the kind of preaching I was used to in a housechurch, so I don't find it strange.)
Regarding his preaching, he warns that he believes the whole Bible. By that, he means with a childlike simplicity. He takes literalism as far as it can go, while not being ignorant of deeper spiritual truth. If his ministry proves anything, it is that those who OBEY the words of Jesus Christ WILL BE blessed in abundance - almost disproportionately to the obedience given.
Although Greg himself is not musical, spiritual music is a strong strand of how God and man are brought together for man to make a response to God in prayers of the heart through singing. This is always powerful when the Holy Spirit is in charge. Greg strives to be in obedience to God continuously, just as many men of God also strive.
Part of his testimony is a past season of many tears, as God showed him the pride in his own heart. He is in earnest about God the whole time. In fact, I hesitated to come back posting on SI because the extent to which one feels one must emulate his quiet humility made me feel that posting could easily be interpreted as sign of pride, rather than an urging from the Spirit of God. Even praising God publicly could be seen as merely a show of religion; but the Bible doesn't support declaring Him only in private.
You can search for Greg Violi online, but remember, the prayer ministy is never videoed, and represents probably 75% or more of what he 'does'. This level of privacy gives God a lot of freedom to move, and people who want to be, really are healed and delivered permanently.
