I’ll never forget those evening meetings at Christian Outreach Centre, West End Brisbane, in the late 1970s. A frequently heard comment was “Church was never like this!” Certainly, never as most had known it.
In the 1980s, the evening meetings in our church were much the same — we never knew what the Lord would do in a meeting, only that His presence would be in our midst and that His power would yet again leave us amazed and very thankful afterward!
Christians who experienced God’s presence back then are now saying to one another — “Are you feeling what I’m feeling?” The presence of the Holy Spirit is lifting our praise and worship to greater heights again! There’s a strong sense that Jesus is among us in power again through the Holy Spirit. God’s response to praise and worship is a spiritual reawakening.
Those unforgettable experiences of the 1970s and 80s are driving us to repent of things we’ve come to live with. The heartfelt sorrow for secret sins is preparing us for yet another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Pray expectantly for your church too! Not just for “showers of blessing” — though these are refreshing, but rather for downpours of the Spirit of God that will leave us ‘soaked through’ and wanting more!
Australia is a land of extremes, a country of “droughts and flooding rains” — rivers that are at times are all but dry, their once raging waters reduced to streaky streams and muddy ponds. Spiritually speaking, we have learned to rely on ‘billabongs’ — remaining side waters from memorable ‘flows’ of the Spirit. But those who can still remember them are fewer by the year, and those the Lord Jesus used to lead them are now (with some exceptions) all but gone.
“You want to run with the young ones” prophesied a perceptive American over yours truly. As too did a robust Australian preacher who pointed at me and asked: “How many younger men have you outrun, Peter?” (Outwalked might be more to the point nowadays.)
Herewith I reiterate my resolve to remain until certain things promised me by the Lord are fulfilled. The Lord’s prerogative, of course, but I like to put my case (always with the utmost respect).