During the summer of 1982, the Holy Spirit encountered Mike
Bickle in a hotel room in Cairo, Egypt. Mike, who is now the Director of the
International House of Prayer in Kansas City, heard the thunderous voice of the
Lord declare these words: “Young man, I am going to change the nature and
expression of Christianity in the entire earth in one generation.” The words
resonated through Mike’s entire being, driving him physically to the floor in
the fear of the Lord. That encounter has been a seminal moment in Mike’s life,
a plumb-line that has helped form his priorities and direction since that time.
The implications of that message cause a trembling in our
hearts even today, as I believe that we are seeing the beginnings of that
transformation. Even as we witness the soaring trajectories of various successful
institutional ministries, and appreciate the impact they are having in the
lives of many, there is nevertheless a growing longing in the hearts of many of
God’s people to see something different, something that seems more central to
the heart of the Father.
When I talk with various individuals in the Body of Christ and
mention this undercurrent of longing, the response that comes most often is
this: “We just want to worship God. We want to be in the Presence of the Lord
in such a way that nothing else matters.” This longing, this stirring in the
hearts of believers across the nation feels like the beginnings of an
earthquake, a deep rumbling, a yearning in the Spirit for God’s Presence to be
manifest among His people.
I believe that the Spirit of God is behind all of this. I believe
that He is stirring it up, more and more deeply, in more and more places than
ever before. As God’s people, we want to be with Him, to touch Him and feel His
touch upon our hearts. We want to know that His Presence, so powerfully spoken
of in His Word, is with us as well, in the same unhindered ways that we read
about in the testimonies of others.
Why not here? Why not now? Could we really give ourselves to
this, and just bypass all the trappings of business-as-usual Church? Is it
possible that we really could forgive and forget the past, the difficulties we’ve
all had with others (and have caused for others!) in the institution, and
simply come together to worship and delight in the Presence of God?
I think – and maybe even believe – that God is doing just
that. Perhaps the longing that is arising is actually His deep center calling
out to the deep places in our hearts, wooing and drawing, inviting us home to
His own heart. If it is indeed Jesus out there on the water, tell me to come! I’ll
leave whatever it is I’m doing and jump in with Him!
The question some will ask is: what good will this be? What will
come of it? And the answer – I believe – is: Everything!
Agree!!
ReplyDeleteYes, Yes, Yes!!! Yes, this is the cry of my heart; that longing for more of Him, to let go of everything else and just be in His Presence... I feel it so intensely... I don't want "church-as-usual. And it's hard for me to even "do" work sometimes; I just want to get filled up again and again and GO, so others can know and experience the goodness of God!
ReplyDeleteI just sent you an email...
Thanks for your comments - please forward the posting to others you know! Blessings, GW
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Gary. I feel that same longing. Indeed, why not here and why not now?
ReplyDelete