Christian Living

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An Effectual Cry
It was not until about half-way through the second afternoon that one of the key-note speakers at that conference spoke a word that seemed to be dropped by God Himself into my soul. It was one of those moments when the word of an anointed prophet of God became the literal, living, life-giving bread of life to me. What did he say? Simply this: “Folks, my message is not about renewal, revival, evangelism, or anything else. My message is this: God wants to re-produce Himself in you!”
That word clung to me. It hounded me. It called to me. It pulled at me. It was God’s Word to me at a specific moment in time; a word that worked in me to transform me, and continue in me, setting me on a course I have never been on before.
While the speaker continued on with his message, everything in me converged to focus on that one thought: God wants to re-produce Himself in you!”
That did it, I was hungry for God.
I don’t know exactly how long it took, but I remember the prayer I prayed. I also remember the exact words of that prayer, along with the manner in which I prayed it. I remember what the prayer did to me. I even remember what that prayer did to ... well ... I think ... God! What was the prayer? It was, along with a tremendous sense that every ounce of my flesh was being hauled to and laid upon God’s altar of fire, this: “Dear God ... aaaaaaaaggggghhhhhh!!!”
Somewhere that day, I met with God.
As I lay there on the floor I saw, I’m sure I did, I really saw, an arm. It was the bare arm of a man, from the middle of the shoulder to the tip of the fingers. No, it was the arm of the Lord. And I remember, my physical eyes clammed shut as the eyes of my spirit fastened on the vision before me, crying out in passion, “Oh Jesus, it’s you I want, you, you, and only you ... and my Father ... oh Jesus, show me the Father!”
As I cried out His arm moved. He was waving, no, He was beckoning me, toward an open door. As I was led toward the door it opened further. It seemed as if it opened into eternity and, as I walked through the door it was as if I was walking into outer space. Instantly I became aware of a steady stream of colorful light. But it was more than light. It was virtue. It was God, in His glory and splendor, and He was pouring Himself into me.
Oh, all this wasn’t apparent to me right away. The whole thing happened in a relatively short period of time. It has taken me several years to sift through this and I still can’t get it all. But that moment was the beginning of a new road for me. It wasn’t a tremendously emotional experience, either. Other things were going on in me there that seemed more significant at the time; like the feeling of giving birth, over and over again, without pain. There were also much “groaning” as my spirit entered travail - and tears, a lot of tears. It was a wonderful and powerful experience.
But as I lay there before God that afternoon I felt as if the virtues of holiness, righteousness, love, joy, peace, goodness, mercy, grace and truth were being poured into my soul. I sensed the patience of my Heavenly Father and the kindness of His heart. In faithfulness He gently cared for me and with divine composure dealt with me, leading me out of where I was and into another measure of His grace and mercy. I felt that my flesh was being consecrated to God, and that I was being born anew in my spirit.
To be continued.

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