Always Tried and Proven (29 page)

     “Look deeper with me, now.  Come deeper into the realm of the Spirit, and find your full, true destiny in God.  You see, we have been lulled to slumber by promises of the sweet by and by.  We’ve been taught to hold on until Jesus comes back.  And the only thing wrong with that, is that we can have God’s fullness today.  We can do the works that Jesus did and greater, if we want to take Him at His Word.”

      “We have been taught not to
expect
power from God.  What good does your religion do, if you make no difference in the world around you?  Do you believe that My touch is for you, and you alone?  Do you think I intend you to sit idly and satisfy yourself -- while with
every passing moment
, the lost fall more deeply into despair, and stumble further away from My Love?”

     “I tell you now that there is unlimited power in God’s hand, waiting for us to tap into.  There is no shortage of His might.  We have had no power because we have not had the maturity required to wield His power.  But that can surely change, when we set ourselves aside for the Lord – and rip the veils from our faces in honesty.  When we de-throne the gods of self; of fear; of vanity; of greed.  When we have been through the fire, and emerge tried and proven.  Then -- then, we will have His power.  And understand that the fire I speak of, will produce fruit.  Forgiveness for one another and for one's self;  and His Love.  If you do not find these changes taking place in your heart, get down on your knees again.  You've missed the boat.  Love is the only foundation that God has for all that needs to be done in your heart in this earth.”

     Sam’s eyes roamed the stands.  “When we are willing to love unconditionally;  love our enemies; love those who are most difficult to love – then, we will be able to make a difference in this earth.  Then, we will
finally
begin to accomplish God’s plan for our lives.”

     “The only difference between you and the Apostle Paul; between you and the great healers of our day; between you and the great saints of history; is only one simple word.  It is the word ‘
yes
’.   Come with me -- and become God’s gift to this earth, to this generation. A formidable gift of healing power, of grace.  Of light, and love.”

     “Every day that we delay, many are lost.  They die without the grace of God because we don’t know – or care enough to commit ourselves – to
their
need.  We don’t have anything to give them, except the rhetoric of our religious founders.  These are all outpourings of the Holy Spirit that were fresh and powerful; but we began to regulate them, and create religious rules for them.”

     “We don’t see into the souls of men; we don’t have any insight or revelation to give them, fresh from God’s heart, to make them realize how much He loves them!”

     “Our lack is their doom!”  We don’t care enough to go to The Cross with our problems, and come back
living miracles
, to shed Love's light into a lost and dying world.”

     “When will we ever learn that the gift of our salvation and life in Christ is not just for us alone?  When we ever finally ‘
get it
’ -- that we are to become disciples, take ourselves as a living sacrifice, to the cross -- and in turn make a way for others?”

     “When we finally do this, we will become the living, functional Body of Christ – miracles and miracle workers,
all of us!
  There are those who selfishly just suck, suck, suck the life out of every minister they can find, soulishly seeking more and more for self.  That’s not how it is meant to be!  That is a dead end street, friends.”

     “We are meant to use the gifts that we are given, not take and take, bloated with 'Words' and blessings, blocking the flow of the River of Life, greedily keeping and hoarding all we can, and continually reveling in what we receive.  Not looking beyond our own needs, pleasures and desires.  When we do this, even living water will stagnate, and become poisonous.” 

     “Offer self on the cross!  Let Him examine your life; it won't hurt you!  Let Him direct you and guide your steps.  This is the way to true happiness.  Only in living His Love for others can we be effective in His power.”

     Jeremy struggled to the piano, and began to play some sweet riffs on the keys that only heightened the awareness and tension in the place. 

      “Every day when I first wake up, I get on my knees, if only for a moment.  I say 'Good morning' to my Lord.  I say, ‘yes, Lord’.  I say 'yes' to the work that I know He has yet to complete in my heart.  This way, I’ll never get stuck or stalled.  I’ll never bog down in self-complacency.  I’m learning to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.  I keep asking, what is His pleasure for me that day?  Where can I give, what can I do, to further His Kingdom in the earth?  Who needs what I have been given?  How can I share His Life, His Love, His blessings?  You see, this
multiplies
the blessings, the Love, the power!  This prevents the stagnation of selfish contentment.  When asking Him what He would have you see, feel and do, you make the work of the cross in
your
heart, easy; because walking in his Will always brings
great joy
.”

     “If you want your life today, just say ‘yes’ to Jesus.  If you want to change the world around you, say ‘yes’ to Jesus.  If you want your life to count for more than simply taking up space on the earth; eating, sleeping, working, and reproducing; then say ‘yes’ to Jesus.

     “Don’t say it, if you don’t want to change.  Don’t say it for the experience you might have, for the thrill of His touch.  Because, you see, He will touch you; and He will take you at your word.  He will change you.  He’ll put you in the Refiner’s Fire, and your life will
never
be the same.”

     “But if you believe it’s worth a scourging to become fit for the Master’s use, then come.  There’s a river of living water to drink.  You can come and buy gold, refined in the fire.  Come.”

     And come, they did.  Sam took off his coat, and unfastened the top of his shirt.  He rolled up his sleeves, and began to pray.  The Holy Spirit swept through the place as he prayed, touching those who had come to the altar.

     “Let repentance come.  Let repentance come to the house of the Lord.  Let the healing come.  Let healing then come to the world.”  A voice sang, so rich and clean that it penetrated to the bone.  It struck Callie’s ears so acutely.  She groaned as it touched her, it pierced and convicted her heart.  It was sweeter than any voice she’d ever heard, yet deeper and fuller than anything she’d known could exist.

     She heard Rose gasp above her, for she was still slumped on the floor.  “My God in heaven, that’s Sam singing!”

     Callie had never heard such a passionate, beautiful voice.  “Come to the feet of the Lord.  If you are thirsty, come and drink.  You who are hungry, come and eat.  You who are lost, come and find your way.  Come to the feet of the Lord.  Come to the feet of the Lord.”

     Callie gave an anguished cry.  She pushed herself up to a sitting position, only to discover that she was essentially alone.  Her mother and Shelly were already on the tent floor below, awaiting prayer.  Peter was staggering along behind them, nearly unable to walk.  The stair aisle was filled with people making their way to the tent floor for prayer.  The response was simply phenomenal.

     Callie’s legs seemed to have no strength, yet she knew that she simply must get down to that tent floor.  She
must
.  She couldn’t see too much, through the tears that were streaming from her eyes.  So, she crawled.  She sat and she scooted.  Whatever it took, she kept moving.  When she got to the floor, her nylons in tatters, her high heels long gone, she simply stumbled to her knees and stayed put.  It seemed like forever that she knelt there and cried.

     You may not be accustomed to seeing people prostrate.  You may not understand it.  Don't let it stop you!  Don't allow it to be a stumbling block.  Get what you need from God tonight and do not allow this little things to get in the way.  Everyone responds differently to the touch of God's hand.  It makes no difference to you.  Come to the Lord, and He will meet your need.  Kneel where you are, if you prefer.  He doesn't care if it's here, or there.  You don't have to be Pentecostal to receive from God. And you need not resist Him because someone else here, is.  Get over it, and get on your knees to Him!”

     Sam's words sent a jolt of reaction through the tent.  Those who'd been frightened or put off by the people who couldn't seem to stand or walk, began to eagerly sink to their knees, right where they were.  This, they could embrace.  This, they could do!  Power began to flow as the unity built among them all.  Each one present, began to put aside their prejudices, their excuses, their criticisms of the 'excessive behaviors' of others that they had objected to so stringently, just a few seconds before.  Excitement built, as the atmosphere changed, and became electric!  Prayer rose from every pair of lips.  People began to weep; some with joy, some with repentance or deliverance.  Some, as they released fears and bitterness, unforgiveness and pain. 

     Finally, a gentle touch on Callie's shoulder caused her to look up.  Sadie was staring down at her.  “Callie, do you want me to pray for you?  Or would you prefer Sam?”

     Callie’s heart leaped with hope.  “Send Sam, if he will come.  I'll wait as long as I need to.”  She whispered.  Sadie nodded without smiling, and went to tell Sam.  It wasn't long, until Callie felt Sam’s hand on her shoulder.  He got down on one knee to look into her eyes.  His eyes were very clear and compassionate as he took her hands.  She sighed deeply, relieved to her core.  He couldn’t have seen her with Gregory.  He wasn’t the slightest bit put off.

     “Callie; what shall we pray?”  he asked quietly.

    Callie looked at him with miserable eyes, and shook her head.  “Oh, Sam.  I am so sorry; please, forgive me. I’ve been such a fool.  I was … so horrible to you.  I didn't mean it.  I really didn't mean it, Sam, I don't know why I did it.”

     His eyes were tender.  “You’ve already been forgiven.  But how shall we pray, now?”

   Callie sighed.  “I don’t know.  For strength; for direction; for protection; for patience.  Sam, I’m a mess, and I don’t know what to do!  I want to be like you.  I want to have what you have.  I want Him to be real, all the time, I need … I need to get back to a place where I can feel right.  I know I let you down.  I don't want to ever feel the way I did again, it wasn't godly and I know God is angry with me for what I’ve done.”

     Sam nodded.  “He’s not angry, Callie.  And neither am I.  It’s all right.  Can you repeat after me?” He then led her in another prayer, one that humbled Callie, and shook her to her core.  He asked her to pledge her life, to lay it down for Jesus.  Again.  He asked her to receive the Holy Spirit and fire.  He said things in her ear then that caused her to cry in shame and that wrenched her heart painfully.  Things about Jesus, how much He loved her.  About the plan He had for her life.  Sam was so good, so kind and patient.  And she had been so worthless.

     When he was done talking to her, Sam put his hand on her head.  “Receive, Callie.”  He said with quiet authority.  A wall of fire seemed to hit Callie broadside.  Sam’s hands caught her quickly as she fell over.  He laid her down and went on to the next person, without looking at her again.

     Sam was delighted when he found himself face to face with Rose Wilson.  He took her hands and his dimples jumped to life in both cheeks.  “Rose,” he said affectionately, “what a wonderful surprise.” As Sam pulled her into a hug and chuckled in her ear, Rose blinked back tears, and hugged his neck. 

     “Sam, I am so proud of you!” she whispered.  “I did try, Sam.  I tried everything to stop her.  She has such a rebellious streak!  I came … I came to try to do … oh, I don’t know.  Something. 
Anything
.  I'm so, so sorry.”

     “Stop it, now.”  He chided gently.  “It’s all right.  Don’t you be fretting.   You don’t think I’d let a little stunt like this throw me, do you?  I’m not worried, Rose.  Now, you forget about Callie, forget about me, and you receive what you need tonight.  God bless you, Rose.”  He said with a smile. 

     When he’d prayed and she’d gone to the floor, he turned to find Peter standing there with a hand stuck out to him.  “Well, preacher.  I gotta hand it to ya; I never thought I’d meet the preacher who could get the better of me, but you’ve surely got the goods.  I don’t mind telling ya, Sam.  I think you’re all right.  And I um … I did try to call ya, Sam. They made me leave a message.  I didn’t want you to have that ugly shock tonight.”   he confided in a low voice.

     Sam could only nod, in appreciation.  “Thank you, Peter.”  he said quietly.  “Where is Romeo, anyway?” he asked dryly.

     “Well, when you started the talk about separating the sheep from the goats, he took a heave-ho over the top of the bleachers, and went out the side door like a rocket.  Left my sister on her face, and ran out on her."

     Sam grinned at Peter.  “Peter, some things work out better than we could ever arrange them.  But thank you for trying to let me know.  Now; suppose you'd let me pray for you?”  he asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.

       Peter blushed a bit.  “Yeah.  Why not?” he asked gruffly. “There's got to be something real about what is goin' on in this shack tonight. Never seen anything like it in my life!  You even got the religious sepulchers up in the stands on their faces.”