Talking About Revival

Many of us say, glibly, “We’re Bible-believing Christians.” But are their limits to this belief? 

This morning, shortly after the fourth decade of the Rosary, when contemplating Jesus’ baptism, I began to wonder about the descent of the Holy Spirit. 

Of course I believe that Jesus was full of the Spirit. Just look at what he achieved, but when reading THIS, I hit a buffer: 

 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

Is St Paul referring to ME? 

I always knew it to be true. The amazing gift of God’s own Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity is too wonderful to comprehend. Maybe I’ve just untied the bow and peeked at Glory, hastily retreating into the commonplace:this God-being is too much for me! 

“Think again!” A whisper from somewhere, or Someone else. “What if the commonplace, is where we meet?”

“Let’s give it a go,”  I said, aloud.

So We went weeding. It was hard work, and exasperating, this attempt to eliminate the ivy that was strangling the sage. But there was something different. Having invited God to be present, made it more purposeful somehow. You’ll know what I mean.

“Let’s go to Linda’s for coffee!” Ray returning from an errand was up for a treat. 

And that’s when it happened. Threads that were disparate and disjointed in time and place began to weave themselves together. I spoke to Linda of meeting with Di and Emma at The Ark Cafe, of praying for the town, for the world, for Revival. Linda spoke of the Vinyard Church in Gloucester, and I remembered. I have seen revival. How could I not have known? 

1985, Wembley Conference Centre “Signs And Wonders Conference.” I attended as an Evangelican Anglican from St John and St Matthew’s Church near Rainham in Essex. Day One, The keynote speaker and Vinyard Church founder,  John Wimber stands up and reads from Matthew 21. (Jesus to two disciples) 

“Go to the village ahead of you, and you will immediately find a donkey tethered with its colt. Untie them, and if anyone says anything, tell them, The Lord needs them.”

 After one of the shortest bible passages read that week, Wimber closed his bible with a snap, and delivered the shortest homily on record. Five words that changed the lives of hundreds of people that day:

“Jesus wants his church back.” 

There was a shocked silence. Then the Holy Spirit descended and all heaven broke out.

Grown men and women, lay people and ministers from every denomination fell to their knees sobbing. People all round me dropped to the floor, some were shaking, others screaming. There was laughter too, and behaviour that looked awfully demonic to me. Wimber’s  team moved quietly through the mayhem, praying with, and ministering to, the crowd.

I was praying too. “Please God, don’t let anything like this happen to me!”

I was, frankly, terrified. This was not like any Christian gathering I’d been at before. 

Intrigued too. The following day much the same happened. Once again, I prayed just as fervently, “Please God, don’t let this happen to me!” I was safe. 

The last day of the Conference , I prayed a third time,” God, why isn’t anything happening to me?” 

He came! Not with raucous laughter or incontrollable sobbing, but a deep, deep,  peace that filled me from head to toe. Wave after wave of it. 

“I give you what you need, not what you fear.”  

There were miracles of deliverance and healing that day, and the days that followed. Right in front of me, a man fell to the floor and shook for a long time. I felt rather uncomfortable because some very sceptical people from my church had come that day, and I was worried they’d be,“ put off.” (They were …) Eventually the young man stood up raised his hands and shouted, “I’M FREE!” I felt the gentle chiding of the Lord, “What would you have chosen for this man, many years in therapy, or an hour with me?” 

I didn’t know it then, in fact I only realised it today, when recounting this story to Linda forty YEARS after it happened. I was present at a revival. I was privileged to see first-hand, the power of God through the descent of the Holy Spirit. 

Then everything returned to normal. The commonplace became the norm. But as I learned today, too, that’s just as it should be. He’s still here, sanctifying the  everyday, present in all we do. It’s all miracle. 

Amen

Post Script:

One of the gifts God has given me is that of encouragement. This poem is for you: 

I am thinking of you, whoever you are

And holding you lightly

Here- just under my heart - in the

Place reserved for God  

Wow!

I expect that comes as a surprise! 

But it shouldn't: daughter, cousin, friend,

Anyone, everyone,

You are all precious.

I guess what I am finding words to say

Are those we would - if we were wise -

Whisper, or shout,

Or  pass along, like salt over dinner: 

"You, whoever you are, are loved.

And held, quietly,

Beneath the heart of God

And here, if lightly,

In my hand."

Be FREE.