FROM GOD, TO WHO?
Years ago one summer, I was ministering at a church in Southern California. A very small and somewhat casual gathering, the service was attended by mostly teenagers and young adults. There were only about forty people in total attendance. Knowing that I was talking to a room full of believers, I didn’t preach an evangelistic message. Instead, I ministered on being the light of the world. I was excited to minister to the group, but, if I’m being realistic, the group wasn’t exactly excited to hear me preach. No, the people had nothing against me personally. The issue was that I didn’t consider the average age of the group, and my message didn’t begin as something that the group was immediately able to grasp. So, as the evening progressed, my message became increasingly simple.
Though I had come prepared to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, the people were expecting more of a casual, relaxed meeting. If I understood the situation correctly, that meeting was more of a Bible study “hangout” than a full on church service.
The people only wanted a short and simple encouragement, nothing more. There was nothing wrong with that, but I wish that someone had told me of their expectations.
Still, when ministering, I usually seek to do more than just give a little encouragement. I’ll pursue a Heavenly encounter at every opportunity. I am after the presence of the Holy Spirit and bringing people into the experience of a divine atmosphere. For in such an atmosphere, the people receive encouragement and more.
So I sought a move of God’s Spirit at that service. Though I wasn’t really able to break the people out of their monotony, I began to pray inwardly, asking the Lord to visit them in a special way.
As I stated, the message I ministered became increasingly simple, especially as I observed the bewildered faces in the group. After about only twenty minutes of preaching, I realized that I had already preached too long—at least, in the opinion of the group.
A bit discouraged, I quickly wrapped up my message. Bringing the meeting to a close, I instructed the group to stand and remain quiet while I prayed aloud. As I prayed, I asked my dear Friend, the Holy Spirit, to take the service from me. “Holy Spirit”, I prayed, “This is your service. Do whatever it is you want to do.” I believed that He would be able to do something supernatural, even in the closing of the service. And, as soon as I prayed those words, the crowd’s collective demeanor transformed—from restlessness to reverence.
I witnessed the Holy Spirit doing His work, as only He could. The change in the mood was immediate. The Spirit had changed the atmosphere of the room. There was no need for anyone to pray for anyone. On one side of the room, someone began to cry. Then, on another side, someone began to worship with hands uplifted. The Holy Spirit just began to touch lives. It seemed as though He moved throughout the room like sporadic strikes of lightning. Out of nowhere, different individuals would begin to respond in visible ways to God’s power. The Spirit moved at random. Following the leading of the Spirit, I began to make my way around the room and pray for people. I finished praying for everyone and then backed away toward the pulpit. Then I heard a beautiful sound, a recognizable sound. It was someone speaking in tongues, a Heavenly prayer language. Only those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit can truly pray in such a way.
I searched for the source of the sound. And when I found the source, I was surprised. It was a boy who looked to be only about eleven years old.
God was doing for that boy what He had done for me at around the same age. The boy rocked backed and forth. His lifted hands were trembling. His jaw shook as he quietly uttered syllables and sounds— unrecognizable. Tears were streaming down his red cheeks. His eyelids fluttered, and he seemed to be
lost in the glory of the moment. That boy had just then been filled with the Holy Spirit.
After the service, the boy approached me for conversation. He wanted to understand what he had just experienced. To my surprise, I discovered that the boy didn’t have even a single clue about what had happened to him. His pastor explained the situation to me: “This boy is a Catholic. He just started visiting our church about two weeks ago. He doesn’t know what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is, and he has never heard of the gift of speaking in tongues.”
I was shocked! The boy was completely unfamiliar with the concept of speaking in tongues.
As far as what was explained to me, the boy had never heard of it or witnessed anything resembling it.
But, despite not knowing about it, the boy received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. The boy simply loved Jesus and wanted to receive what was present in the service. He sensed
the presence of the Holy Spirit in the atmosphere and surrendered to the Spirit’s leading.
I didn’t have to force him to speak in tongues. I didn’t have to manufacture a moment. I didn’t even have to mention the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit Himself responded to the surrender of a little boy. In fact, the Holy Spirit will go anywhere He brings peace, not confusion. The Holy Spirit does not
make us senseless and silly; He makes us sharp. He empowers self-control, not wacky behavior. He dignifies the children of God. He doesn’t shame them through the bizarre. He is not belligerent, clamorous or spooky. Though His manifestations might seem strange, they are never foolish. His work is purposed for transformation, not entertainment. Those, who truly walk as the Spirit leads them, may be peculiar, but they are attractive, magnetic people. The Spirit doesn’t isolate us. He makes us captivating lights to the world.
- David Diga Hernandez (Carriers Of The Glory)