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Africa: A Spiritual Explosion In Moshi
July 12, 2002
It is Sunday night after the service at one of the churches in Moshi,
Tanzania and words are just not adequate to describe what happened.
SUNDAY MORNING EVANGELISM
Sunday morning the Lord had me preach a strong gospel message.
I shared from Romans and talked about Christ not only paying the
penalty for our sins but also dealing with our sin nature. Romans
8:2-5 tells us we must set our mind on what the Spirit desires.
Earlier, the pastor had shared some of his frustrations about some
of the members' lack of commitment and personal walk. Now
their faces were so focused and attentive.
When I called for those who had never given their lives to Christ
and been born again, 25 people came forward. It was a marvelous
morning. Many of those who made decisions were the very
problem members the pastor had concerns about. "No wonder
they struggled with their walk," he said.
GLORIOUS WORSHIP
The choir sang as we arrived Sunday night. Already, the presence
of God was very strong. During the last song His presence so
increased that I felt the Lord wanted that same song sung again.
When the pastor invited me to the podium I called for the
worship team to come back up. We sang, "Ni wewe tu Bwana,"
which means "You are the only God, You are Lord." It was a
glorious time of worship.
The message that night was about the authority of the believer.
This has become almost a theme this year -- every time I preach
on God's authority, miracles and healings break out.
TRUE AUTHORITY FROM INTIMATE OBEDIENCE
I read John 5:19-30 and 10:18. Jesus only did what the Father told
Him to do. He is our example and He even prayed for oneness in
the high priestly prayer in John 17. The glory changes you into
likeness of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Jesus came to save us but He also
came so we could have eternal and abundant life.
You cannot have authority without obedience, and you can't have
obedience without intimacy. Intimacy requires spending time with
God. That costs a price in terms of self-desires. When we choose
our own agendas God allows us to live defeated joyless lives.
The whole church just seemed convicted. Repentance was heavy
in the air.
CRUMPLED TO FLOOR IN TRAVAIL
Earlier the pastor had asked me to take time to pray for healing
and just minister to people. However, the Lord had told me to
pray for the Spirit of evangelism.
The message was over and I closed my Bible and just walked as I
waited for direction from the Lord. The Lord first showed me He
wanted to increase the gift of intercession on a certain lady. I
called her forward and she stood in front of the church. I just
looked at her and she began to weep. Then she started to shake.
I just prayed; I never touched her. Soon the powerful Spirit of
intercession came upon her and she crumpled to the floor in travail.
The look on the people's faces was almost disbelief. It was obvious
that I did not do this -- I had just come into agreement with God.
I asked their question for them, "How did I know God would do
that? ...Oneness."
FATHER'S HEART STUNNED US ALL!
Then the Lord reminded me about the Spirit of Evangelism. I asked
if there were people who had been feeling a burden for souls today.
About 25 hands went up so I called them forward. They lined up
across the front of the altar and I just began speaking over them
what the Lord was telling me. "The Lord wants to give you the Spirit
of evangelism. He wants to give you a great burden for the lost. You
are going to weep and feel the Father's heart for lost souls."
Something started happening among the people. Some began to
shake and then weep. They couldn't stand still! Some started to fall
to the floor. In the next few minutes as I prayed out loud for the
Spirit of evangelism to come upon these people, the glory -- mixed
with a burden for souls -- fell so hard that it stunned us all! I have
never experienced anything like this.
Then Ralph and I began to lay hands on people as more now came
forward. The pain and burden of the Father for the lost souls in
Moshi came upon those people and it was unsettling to watch. It
was just overwhelming to see how the Father must hurt for lost souls.
A PIVOTAL DAY FOR MOSHI
At one point I went to a blackboard behind the platform and wrote
the date. "This church will never be the same again," I told them.
"You are going to pack this church with people who will give their
lives to Christ."
Some visiting pastors came forward and I had the pastor of this
church and his elders come forward and kneel. I placed a cloth
over them as the Lord directed me. I prayed for the mantle of
evangelism that the Lord showed me He was placing on this
church. They began to weep and wail and when they finally stood
up, they were so 'drunk' they could not walk.
UNPRECEDENTED AUTHORITY IS COMING
People who had not been touched so far in the meetings now were
being powerfully overwhelmed. I have never seen such a powerful
burden for the lost come on a whole church like that before!
What was so amazing to me was it was purely about moving in
obedience to what the Father already wanted to do. It was a perfect
illustration of the authority we have in Christ if we will only do
what the Father says. However, it does take time and discipline to
be able to move as one with the Lord.
This is what is coming upon the church and why He is sending
His glory -- to prepare the way for unprecedented authority not
seen since the beginning of the Church!
In Him,
Stephen Gray
Location: Moshi, Tanzania, United Republic Of
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