Moving Glory to Glory

I must admit, I robbed you of some of the juicy details of my radical encounter with the Holy Spirit that one Wednesday. It wasn’t out of a selfish desire to keep them locked inside or even out of unfounded insecurity. It was merely that I was, for once in my life, at a complete loss for words to adequately explain what happened. Though I am still convinced no mortal author could do my experience justice, I will do my best.

It was Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, and I was still reeling from the powerful prayer and prophesy session that morning. Though I was spiritually drained and desperately looking forward to having some alone time to process through all that had happened, I anxiously awaited our evening ministry night and the promise of deeper and more miraculous revelations of the Holy Spirit.

I went about my day, smiling as God continued to reveal to me His love for the people around me, and crying as He revealed to me His pain over their sadness. I was so encouraged by the fact that my previously apathetic heart had been shockpaddled back to life, and I was curious as to what else the Lord would do to me as I continued my relentless pursuit of intimacy with Him.

Finally our evening ministry night arrived. I approached my classroom around 6:30PM to find a completely packed house. It appeared that the rest of campus had heard that glory was about to break out and no one wanted to miss it. Amy Sollars started off the evening, opening up in prayer and with a promise that no one would be pushed over and that we were in a completely safe environment. She also gave us a bit of a warning that the evening was going to be off the charts crazy. My heart soared with a second wind.

The worship team consisted of two young high school students that had never played together before. Everything was in God’s hands. We were so weak, a room full of DTS students and young, unprepared worship leaders, that we knew that God had to show up or we would be powerless to accomplish anything. But, true to His Word, He was so strong in our weakness. He was so faithful in honoring our childlike faith, so good to feed His children that come hungry to His feet.

When we started out in worship, I felt pure, unchained freedom course through my body like an electric current. Every hair on my body stood on end as I shouted at the top of my lungs a song of praise to my King. Not once did a thought of my appearance or my terrible voice cross my mind. It wasn’t about that. I had seen the love and glory and grace and holiness of my King and I had no other choice but to abandon myself entirely and fall at His feet in worship. As I looked around the room, my peers were relishing in the same freedom I was experiencing. It was such a beautiful sight to see, 80 or so young people singing praises to the living God.

I danced, I stomped my feet, and I punched into the air. I lifted my hands and shouted and clapped. The purest smile I think I have ever smiled was painted across my face the entire time. This is joy! This is real joy! I had never been happier in my life.

The prayer team prayed for me, and I lost my footing several times, unable to stand in the thick manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. I prayed for others, speaking blessing and love and prophesy into their lives. We hugged each other and cried and laughed. We were so united. We were so free. This is what we were created for…

Further into the night a chorus broke out. Aaaaohhhhhh waaaaohhhhh ohhhhh waohhh… It was the song of the angels. Wind whipped through the room, people fell to the ground, and I knew that this was a teeny tiny glimpse of heaven, where all God’s children will praise His name. Day and night they sing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

When the late hours of the night approached, Amy tried and failed several times to wrap things up. We just couldn’t stop. Families that lived in the dorms around our building got out of bed to come and see what God was doing, and they happily joined in, the children playing the drums and dancing about. We continued to sing the chorus of the angels, louder and louder and louder. The building shook. Heaven split open and the glory of God poured down on us like a fire hose.

I have never felt anything like it. My body tingled from my head down to my toes. My heart was ablaze and my mind at peace. My hungry soul was satisfied, and in the satisfaction I became hungry for more. Once you taste the sweet glory of the Lord, nothing else will do.

I looked around. Amy had been so blown away by our dedication to the praise of the Lord that she had to sit down. She was overcome with joy. This is what she had been praying for – a generation that would press in, never relenting until revival became a reality. And here it was, happening before her very eyes. And it wasn’t just Amy that was rejoicing. I am convinced that Heaven threw a party that night. I know that our praise touched the heart of God and that He was just overjoyed. And so was I.

As I walked back to my dorm room, dripping with sweat and unable to speak, I couldn’t stop smiling. I’ve finally found where I belong, and, shockingly, it isn’t really a place. It’s a presence. I belong in the presence of God.

Let the prayer of the psalmist be our prayer as well…

-Psalm 27:4

4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

I know that I know that I know that the Holy Spirit is real and I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is His heart’s desire to be our very best friend. God is faithful to reveal Himself to us, but He feeds us according to our hunger. How hungry are you?

Tags: discipleship, DTS, glory, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, revelation, revival, YWAM