The Waves

It was our last night in the church that has lovingly welcomed us these last few days. The service began with beautiful praise music, with sounds and rhythms that made me feel right at home, and the foreign words seemed to enhance the sense of heart felt worship. Such a people of heart and zest! Little children danced in the front with beautiful banners and glittering tops, some of them in pattern, some just escaping their mothers' arms and gyrating in tune with joy. It made me laugh and think of dear Addie and Grace, how they would have fit in with this crowd!

As a team we were invited to come up to the stage to speak a word of knowledge -- a word for healing that we had prayerfully received from the Spirit. As we did, people in the crowd of 500 would stand if they had that need, and by the time we were through, well over half of the sea of people were standing.

Next we listened to a few testimonies of healing from the 2 nights prior: a little 9 year old girl who had bad astigmatism in both eyes since birth and had been completely healed, no longer needing glasses. The crowed roared with glory as she ran and hugged the team member who had prayed for her. Then there was a man who had not been able to touch his toes for many years due to the pain across his back. He kept leaning down in joyful demonstration and swiping his feet as the audience applauded. A teenager who had only 50% vision in one eye had her sight completely restored, demonstrating her new gift by making out the fingers that were held up in front of her that before would have only been a blur. A young mother, holding her toddling daughter, spoke for a long time. Her body was healed in two places: her neck, which she could barely move before, and her back, which had limited her leaning over, making it difficult to reach down and pick up her little one. She was so grateful her words spilled out with such enthusiasm that the whole room filled with excitement, but by her own estimation, the most beautiful thing that happened to her was that her spirit had been restored. Spirit, soul, body, she was made whole. Now that is good news. Sozo.

After these testimonies, many people were spontaneously healed (around 79) by the presence of God. As we were praying over those who remained, the Spirit broke over the crowd like a wave. The sermon was never preached. Chairs had to be moved as people fell, some violently and dramatically under the power of God. Soon there were the wild and woolly signs of Spirit manifestation everywhere: tears, delight, joy, hugs, shaking, people strewn everywhere on the floor, some without even being prayed for. It was like being in a tsunami of love, God rolling his children around in waves of His presence.

After a very late dinner followed by tearful hugs good bye, we climbed on the bus well after midnight. Like the night before, we began sharing the stories. Indeed, the lame walked, the blind saw, deaf had ears opened. Between tonight and the night before 25 people had come to know the Lord. At least 400 people were healed in some manner. So much joy in the camp, as they used to say.

Most of the team had been caught in the wave as well, tossed around by the mighty presence of the Lord, and hearts awakened to new levels of amazement at His wonders and His glorious power. We are told that the people and this church will never be the same, and we know that it was not our little hands that could bring such a torrent of change. We simply know that life this side of the wave now seems different, brighter, clearer, like the water of the Spirit swept away old unbelief, fear, and doubt. I'll take that kind of breaker any time! Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:7, 8