Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
I’m praying a new prayer after last week. I’m not just praying “Holy Spirit come,” I’m praying “Take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11).”
He came.
God came.
Christ was exalted. The Holy Spirit descended in power, love and with a demonstration.
And He keeps coming.
This all started (well it started long before that) last week at a conference called the Finding. The Finding was a gathering of over 1500 worshippers in the Pacific Northwest that were desperate for a touch from God.
Raul Dimov started The Finding. He got the vision for it at a Randy Clark event when God put a burden on his heart for Seattle. He gave His life to Jesus 7 years ago at Represent Conference. Represent Conference was a ministry started by us at Sonrise Christian Center. The church (Eastside Church) that hosted The Finding was the same church we rented 7 years ago. Todd White preached the gospel at Represent and Raul got saved. 7 years later he hosted an event that would change our lives in the same location that his life was changed.
We (my wife Grace and I) drove to the Finding full of desperation and a holy frustration.
Promises. Prophecies. Challenges.
The agony of ministry. The goodness of God. The pain of life.
The longing for revival.
We worshipped long each night with Jesus Image worship where the focus was not on us but on Jesus. What a powerful overwhelming excitement and awe of God as His presence filled the room. Michael Kulianos preached a powerful message on the gospel Thursday night.
Randy Clark preached Friday night. I had to leave early Thursday before the prayer time. I wasn’t satisfied. As Randy closed His message I received jolts of God’s power through my body. I came to the altar for impartation. I shook like crazy, especially my hands and arms. I’ve been to many meetings but never experienced this. Randy prayed for me. I wasn’t on my feet for long and God’s power radiated over me.
We had to get back to our kids. It was late. But I couldn’t drive. Grace drove me home and in the car and in my bed I still felt God’s power coming over me. He just didn’t stop.
The next morning His glory was upon me again. Grace was frustrated. I received but where was her breakthrough? I went to be at Raul’s teaching on Saturday afternoon. We both went back together Saturday night. We worshipped. Heidi Baker ministered. The whole room ministered to God and He came with His manifest glory and power again.
Grace got touched by God’s power. She was shaking and trembling in His presence. She said we had to get the kids. It was late. She tried to leave and God struck her to the floor (we had to carefully lift her off the seats she landed on). I struggled to get her to the car. She couldn’t walk normally. She even woke me up at night as God’s power was jolting her body an hour or more later once we were in bed.
We woke up the next morning and His power and glory were upon us again. Going to church Sunday morning I knew things would be different. After the worship I told the story and we started to pray for people that wanted a fresh impartation from the Holy Spirit. People came eagerly to the altars and God’s power was manifesting all around the room. Dad preached Jesus and we prayed for more people at the end. A spouse left to run errands while their other half was on the floor. A woman came forward and said I want to give my life to Jesus now. Many were crying, trembling, laughing and stuck on the floor. It was a holy moment.
Then He showed up in power and glory again in our next service. People were filled with the Holy Spirit. People were set free. God encounters were everywhere. People were speaking in tongues. There were packed altars.
We encountered God on Monday as a family once again in our living room.
Tuesday morning we woke up and God’s power was upon us again. Grace and I prayed together and went into our staff meeting.
And you know what? The precious Holy Spirit was poured out on our church and the Seattle Bible College staff. Many of them were slain in the Spirit. All of them were touched by God. Our staff meeting was an encounter in His glory.
The dry season is over. This is a day of outpouring.
We aren’t doing church as usual.
We are giving Him extended time to express what He wants to do as we worship and encounter Him in His Word and prayer on Sunday mornings.
This didn’t really start at the Finding. Or at Represent Conference. Or at Sonrise Christian Center. It started in the upper room 2000 years ago as 120 believers packed an upper room. Jesus said it to them and they experienced His words:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV
We are partnering with the dream of God for His people to be a spiritual people who are clothed with power. Believers, churches and regions throughout history tap into the ancient power of Pentecost when they are abandoned unto God and wanting to seek Him with all their hearts.
His power has come.
He has come.
Stay desperate. It’s not about shaking. Or tongues. Or laughing. Or crying.
It’s about Him.
It’s about Him having His way. It’s about revival.
Don’t be distracted. Come desperate and hungry for Jesus.
For Him alone.
He has come. And He’s going to keep coming.
We want those desperate for a touch from God and for a miracle in their life to come and join us.
He wants to move and as we seek Him we find Him. He is meeting us in a real way.
We are not just praying that He comes anymore, we are praying that He doesn’t leave.
Sadly, I was unable to attend last Sun.,but will be watching the re-broadcast tomorrow when I'm awake and fresher! The Lord is not bound by time or space, so I fully expect Holy Spirit to fully invade my living room tomorrow!
Blessings, Sue
We aren’t doing church as usual.
So be it!
Continue, Lord Jesus
More, Holy Spirit