Only Believe

 Last night I witnessed a beautiful move of God. It started early in the service when Sherman asked people if they had any testimonies of praise. One lady commented that a biopsy returned on her daughter with no cancer. People erupted into applause. Another lady testified about her fifth-grade daughter talking to her best friend about how to get saved. That little girl got saved at VBS this week. Her family does not understand salvation or baptism. We trust God to open their eyes and that the whole family will be saved and follow in baptism together. That young evangelist daughter commented to her mother, "I don't know why people think talking about Jesus is so hard. You just talk to your best friend about Him." Very well said. Brenda then testified about praying for five young men to get saved. One of those men rooms with two of our sons in college. He is not saved. Recently, he started asking our son Tanner some spiritual questions. Tanner commented to him, "Read the Bible for yourself and make up your own mind." His roommate told Tanner he did not have a Bible. Two days later a Bible showed up in the mail Brenda bought him for graduation. Another testified about God being faithful in the good times and the bad times. 

Those testimonies set the tone for the rest of the service. Songs of praise lit up the room. God inhabited the praises of His people. I felt God helping me preach last night. I also felt His word fell on fertile ground in the hearts of the people. In the passage, a man facing an impossible situation heard Jesus say, "Do not be afraid but only believe." 

During the invitation, one couple confessed some spiritual needs going on in their family. Immediately people rallied around them to pray. The same thing happened all over the room. Multiple little prayer meetings took place. We lost track of time. Time did not matter as people were comforted by God, His word, and praying people. The congregation would finish praying for one person and then move onto another. Sometimes it was only one person praying with someone. Sometimes it was a group of people gathered in intercession. 

There were tears in the eyes of the hurting. I heard more than one weeping. I saw one dabbing tears from her cheeks. Groans of agreement ascended by the intercessors. Desperate people needed God's powerful help. One little spoken word from Jesus changes everything. When things look hopeless, impossible, like it is over, one spoken word from Jesus can bring hope to the most hopeless situation. Just ask Jairus in Mark 5:35-41. 

In my opinion, last night was by far the best night of Camp Meeting. Like a swell in the ocean slowly building as it rolls toward the beach, so it feels that God has been slowly building His move among us for the past nine days. The swells in the ocean eventually turn into waves cresting before crashing onto the beach. God is doing something. I sense the momentum building. Slowly, methodically, systematically, and persistently God has worked among us. I am not convinced He is done as I seek Him for a fresh word for tonight's meeting. 

After the service, the Atens came to eat supper at our house. A comment was made that peaked my attention. All along we promoted these meetings going through tonight. The Atens thought we were going through Friday night. They asked me about it and I replied, "I don't know. I am willing to go as long as God wants us to go. We will make that decision tonight." I know what God put in my heart ten months ago about these meetings. Something I have told only a few trusted people. We have not experienced those things yet. God does not have to send revival just because we scheduled some meetings. He can do whatever He wants. I have a suspicion that He wants to do so much more. So now, it is time for us to only believe Him for all He intends. 

I sense a hunger increasing in those who attend. We have testimonies that the presence of God is felt at home by those watching online. Please pray for tonight. We do not want grieve God by ending the meetings too soon. Nor do we want to extend them past what He is blessing. Pray for God to make it clear what we are supposed to do. ONLY BELIEVE.