Why am I so much for the exhibition of the power of God and the manifestations which go with them? Why will I not apologize for the expressions of God’s glory and push them off into smaller weekday meetings? Why don’t I buy the argument that the seeker is “offended’ by the “shaking and baking” that can occur when holy power intermingles with sinful flesh?
This Sunday’s service was another perfect example of many which I have witnessed.
As the meeting concluded, the Lord pointed out to me a young man. I called him up from the crowd, and he came forward. As he looked at me, I recognized him as a kid whom I had prayed for in the past. His hair was cut differently, thus he had not been clear to me.
I remember that in my last encounter, he had been hostile, skeptical, and cynical of the gospel. As I had shared my testimony, he glowered at me with anger. I found out later that he wanted to scream at me. He had scurried in and out of the service, to the dismay of his mother.
When I knew that it was him, a bit of trepidation hit me. What if this time, he would really scream?
I told him, that I was not going to preach at him, but if I could pray for God to just touch him? He agreed. I stood about three feet away, to not even touch him. Bang! The power of God hit him; he fell backwards and lay on the floor for ten minutes. Tears came to his eyes. He got up and went back to his seat. I called him up again. I did not touch him. Bang! He went down again. This time crying, he embraced his mother whom he had been at odds. Then he came and hugged me saying, “thank you.”!
Later, I prayed for a little kid, no more than 10 years old. I never touched him. Bang! This kid kept on going down, perplexed, amazed, enthralled, and open-eyed at the power of God. We know that little kids do not fake the manifestations.
I have seen these very same types of transactions between an all-powerful God and the people whom He loves, over and over and over.
I will continue to do what I am doing. I love to see people come into power encounters with the Living God. I am not bothered by what they manifest, as a result. The language of the power and the glory of God are freely spoken in the entire world as it hungers for the risen Christ.
Jose and Mary Alvarez 