Tuesday, 7.31 - A glorious encounter with the Holy Spirit
There is a brother down here in Brazil, from the south of Brazil (Santa Catarina), who came to visit Tom and also to talk with me about a weekend visit the last week end of August. Gregory McNutt (although you won’t be able to understand the portugeuse you can see him in action at Greg McNutt). Tuesday morning (yesterday) Gregorio, Tom & Kathy, Judson, James Padley, and about 14 others gathering together for a time of prayer, much of it focused on NJ.
I can hardly describe the experience - it was one of the most powerful that I have personally experienced here in Brazil. Gregorio is a revivalist here in Brazil with a ministry called “Fire, Passion & Tears.” He was the head of evangelism for Youth with a Mission in Belo Horizonte for 15 years (as well as several other countries in South America). He has also traveled to more than 40 countries preaching the gospel and ministering to the body of Christ. He has a really unique heart for revival. For many years he has fasted 3 forty day fasts a year just for revival. Gregorio is so unique that I can’t say I every remember meeting anyone so completely devoted to Jesus, and to serving Him in bringing hope and true revival to the church. He is a bit wild and wooly, long haired and a little like an O.T. prophet - but a really sweet brother who believes the Lord wants him to come and minister at Lamb. Gregorio was one of the prinicipal persons who led the prayer meeting we had yesterday. By the time we finished we had spent nearly 3 hours praying and the Holy Spirit really ministered to all of us, but especially to me.
It was wonderful to hear the heartfelt cries for NJ. All around the room weeping and wailing for revival to come to NJ, and to Lamb of God. I was so touched by what I heard, but even more by the power of the Spirit doing something new in my heart. Tom, Gregorio, Kathy and James all laid hands on me and prayed for the Spirit to come with power. I was so grateful for the burden for souls and for the church that God deepened in my heart. I also believe God did some other things that will unfold in the coming months. Let me put it this way - After they prayer meeting ended I was overwhelmed with this peace, almost like being slightly intoxicated. This feeling continued for hours and hours afterwards and even into the evening teaching meeting at Buritis. (The weekly ARC training meeting for young leaders)
One of the first evidences of something “new” which God did in my heart unfolded in the teaching meeting Tuesday evening at Buritis (pronounced Bu-ta-chees). I was there teaching on Christology (the person of Christ) and as the meeting unfolded the Spirit began to move as I was preaching. By the end of the meeting people began shouting praise to Jesus, some falling to their faces and weeping as Christ was being exalted. All around the room people were weeping, rejoicing as they responded to the Spirit reminding them of the glories of Christ. It was the first time in 25 years of preaching that anything like this has every happened to me. This went on for 10 - 15 minutes, and ended with an extended time of applause and celebration directed toward Jesus. I was as astonished as I was overwhelmed by thankfulness at the Spirit’s move. More on this as the Lord makes it plainer to me what he is doing… peace, the black dwarf
August 1st, 2007 at 9:51 am
awesome.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Scott,
yesterday i was really praying for silas, because he’s not feeling well, i really felt god move in a might way. I felt like he was challanging me and asking me how much will i really be willing to give up for him. I also felt like he was challanging me to pray more in tongues (not nessesarilly in public). I know that sounds weird, but as i was praying in this way i felt a power in my prayers that i havn’t felt in a long time. I am so excited about what God is doing down there in Brazil. Wish I was there!!! Keep seeking after him and bring that fire home!
August 4th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Scott,
I’m so moved by this. I spent several hours on Tuesday meditating on the verse from Matthew “the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light…for all those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned”. The Lord showed me many things about himself and I long for this dawning light to rise on our nation and at Lamb. I praise God for all that he is revealing to you, for the hearts of those with you praying for us, and I believe much that the Lord has kindled in my heart since my first visit to Brazil four years ago is being stirred. Yes- bring that fire home!
August 6th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Scott,
I was driving through Newark the other day on S. Orange Ave and I heard this shouting over a loudspeaker. It sounded like preaching so I looked around, expecting that it was on the radio or something. But there was a street preacher outside a hair salon or something and he was praying so fervently, crying out to God with all his might and there was a woman standing near him with her hands raised. Across the street were a group of youths. I couldn’t tell if they were part of it or not but they seemed like they were kind of in a tizzy–I couldn’t tell good or bad–but definitely in response to this guy. I lifted my hand toward him as I was driving and all of a sudden I felt–like you said–completely intoxicated and somehow like I was experiencing “reality” to a much more heightened degree. I began crying out to God to bless this preacher and grant much fruit to him; I also cried out at the top of my lungs for revival and deliverance for Newark, NJ and the US (and Lamb!). I wanted to share this with you because once in a while the Holy Spirit does this to me, too–and it seems to be happening with greater frequency. Woo-hoo!
August 8th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
WOW. That video of Gregorio was amazing–not him, but how the love of Jesus so permeated the hearts of the people there. That part where they drape the blanket on the older guy had me weeping.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Uh, what I mean was that it wasn’t *just* gregorio that was amazing.