Category: The Holy Spirit at work

Often, when we think we’ve figured out how and when
God will move, He smiles; then starts by first making our plans look ridiculous and sometimes stupid, thereby creating room for Himself
to be the GOD He is, on invitation.

For most of the facilitators and the students at our last Yei Students’
Holiday Conference 2011, our experience on the last day of the meeting will
never be forgotten. It was a holy commotion. All creation longs for such
moments because divine purpose is being executed; and God is center stage.

We’d switched and changed the program quite a bit to accommodate lapses. It
was all in Abba’s plan.

Friday 17^th June, the last day of the conference, had been
declared “Holy Ghost Day” and we’d also asked the students to come
fasting. We anticipated a unique experience, but nothing like what we got.

The Bible Study topic for that day was “The Holy Spirit and You”, and
the small group discussions were tailored towards helping the students come to
grips with what could hinder their fellowship with the Holy Spirit. This was
another good move.

“…is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who
knows what he is doing?” 1Cor 2:16a (The Message) Planning is always good,
but more blessed are they that give Abba enough room within their plans to do
as He wills. “…in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your
path” (Prov 3:6), is a profound scripture.

Going by our program for that afternoon, we were an hour behind; barely enough
time left to split into our 10 different classes and do a meaningful study on
the Holy Spirit as scheduled

“Rev Johnny, I think you should merge all the classes into one and just
talk a little on the Holy Spirit. while I go get Rev Yemi.”
 He was scheduled to take the evening session.

“That’s a good idea” said Rev Johnny; and I drove off to go the
hotel.

When Rev Yemi Ayodele and I arrived at the conference hall, we were
awestruck with what we saw, standing at the doorway. It was amazing to see many
of these school kids blasting away in unknown tongues at the top of their
voices, some were rolling on the floor as they prayed, drenched in their sweat;
and some were weeping, unsure of what was happening to them as they muttered
words never heard before. 

As we maneuvered through those slain in the spirit, Rev Yemi said,
“Uche, God has finished the work for today. We cannot add to this.”
Indeed, there was holy pandemonium and God was at the centre stage.

Rev Yemi had to close the meeting, teaching the students what was taking
place and why. In fact as he spoke, some were still praying in tongues,
unable to control themselves. Their hunger for righteousness was being rewarded
beyond our prayers. Tears of joy flowed from my eyes as I laid hands on a few
to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

I’m still reflecting on what happened that afternoon, and asking myself
a few questions.

“What form would this conference have taken, if the event of that last
day occurred on the first day?”

“Did we make the same mistake again, seeing that a similar outpouring
occurred last year on the last evening, leaving us little time to teach in more
detail what they were experiencing?”

“Are we honestly and consciously giving the Holy Spirit His rightful
place in our lives, ministrations and ministries?”

“Who and where will these kids be in five to ten years from now?” Abba knows, He has his eyes on them. He smiles.

We are seeing lives changed in South Sudan. The Holy
Spirit is busy. This is my first of many stories from Sudan on the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit among God’s people there. It’s not full-scale yet, but we
are getting there. Pastor Martin Kiyinji of Christian Missionary Fellowship
International in Yei shared these encounters with me few weeks ago. God is
happening!!

It was at 10pm when some of
our church members rushed to my home. They had been praying as a group when
suddenly one of them started speaking in an unknown language. “Could it be
the Luganda language?”  They wondered. Others thought evil spirits
had possessed the young girl. So they wanted me to go with them immediately and
help cast out the demons in the girl.

This group of girls had recently
been prayed for by our visiting pastor from Uganda to be filled with the Holy
Spirit.

I went with my wife to see
the girl. We met her speaking fluently in an unknown tongue. We stopped the
brethren who were already casting out the “demons” out of the
girl and seized the opportunity to preach to the many onlookers who had
gathered. They had never seen anything like this before. We explained to them the mysteries of God. Many of them believed
that night.

A few days after, a group of
11 women from our church gathered and were prayed for to be filled with the
Holy Spirit. They were all filled and started going out in the nearby
homes preaching the gospel. They would strap their babies on their back and out
they would go in the hot sun. God is doing amazing things through these women.
Drunkards have believed through their witness and have joined the church.
Many of them have been water baptized now. We thank God for these great
works of the Holy Spirit.

Another boy, a student of
King’s college also got filled and startled his neighbors when he suddenly
starting speaking in tongues while praying. His neighbors knew him as my
disciple and ran to call me to come and pray for him. They thought he was sick.
This boy used to be so shy until that day. He changed from a timid disciple to
an evangelist overnight.

Our experiences will differ as far as this divine
encounter is concerned. But the drama will always be remembered by those who
have a witness.

Unfortunately today, some don’t believe nor acknowledge Him, some
don’t understand Him and some think His days are over, many others have no place for Him in their daily living. Pity!

Jesus said, “But you shall receive power (ability,
efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be
My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very
bounds) of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 Amp)

Peter preached on Pentecost day, “For the
promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and
for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God
invites and bids to come to Himself”  (Acts 2:38 Amp)

What was your first encounter with the Holy Spirit like?
Where you labeled a drunk, a religious fanatic, a hallucinating dreamer…? Did
you do something others thought was senseless?

How has your witness for Jesus grown since your first
encounter with the Holy Spirit?