Monday, July 31, 2006
The Invisible World
14 Salvations.
22 Re-dedications.
37 Interested to know more.
Should God's work be defined and measured by sheer numbers alone? I believe it is simply an encouragement to continue to walk with Him and be in partnership with Him. We have all done our part already.. Like Paul and Apollos, we 'planted the seeds', but it is God who causes the growth. Some have said they did not understand the plays. Some have said they felt the pastor was too forceful. Others have shifted their focus to commenting on the performers and the performances. Still others were touched. Not very many people saw the heart of God in this event. Thankfully God does not depend on our responses to be faithful and patient...
The Journey
Stage Lights. Red, Yellow, Green, Blue. The music is pumping and there are people on stage dancing their hearts away. I look up at the flickering stage lights and my thoughts wander off to the time when we first started off at the camp. The apprehension that I felt back then is still in me moments before I step onto the stage. The desire to see my mom at the event still beats strongly with each accelerated heartbeat. Much had happened since the start of the preparations, I mused even as I waited for my turn to appear on stage. At the very last minute a riff happened between us that nearly jeopardized her chances of coming to the event. Yet God was faithful and supernatural blessings came in a form of free NDP preview tickets that my good buddy decided to bless me and my mom with. It is all in God's plan! She goes for the parade and is the happiest mom in the world. I like it when she's happy cos she's agreeable to anything. In fact she takes the initiative to ask what time and where the performance is.. God is faithful.
The first performance has ended with the crowd wild with applause and wolf whistles. My thoughts drift to the times in camp and the kind of people God has sent to be under my charge. I had extended the invitation to seven of them. Three made it today. Praise God. There is one of them I especially feel for. I sense he has a heart for God. He has the same name as me. His response was positive. He has his heart in the right place, bless him. Looking forward to invite him for more events. The other one has a case of depression. The performance has spoken to him more than he will admit. It has become a conversation topic among us. Sometime's it's shallow, other times it's thought provoking. To me it's evidence of the invisible work God is doing when we have reached the end of ourselves.
It's time for me to take the stage. I walk out in darkness, taking a deep breath at the same time I take the microphone. We get into positions and everything else is a daze. I vaguely remember times I feel a surge of desire to worship God. All throughout the presence of God was assuring and strong.
It is time for Pastor to give the message. Most of the cast are praying profusely. I walk around and get myself settled down. Then I too begin to pray. Pastor gives the call to raise hand. Something like a wave of murmur pulsates backstage and a multitude of tongues are heard. It is overwhelming. It is warfare. Pastor calls for the people who have responded to come forward. More profuse prayer. This is the first time I have experienced such unity in the Body of Christ. I am honored to be part of it. This I will remember for a long time to come. Not the performances. The audience never heard the fervent prayers and cries for their souls to be saved. It matters not. God heard it. He will answer.
Mantou at 7:34 PM