Did You Hear That?

I went to my FIRST concert last night. Okay, so allow me to qualify that a bit if you will. I had purchased tickets to a certain concert, while in college, of a white-gloved performer during his “VICTORY” tour, though I ended up selling the tickets for more needed books/food while in college. I also purchased tickets to an Air Supply concert (YES, I’m THAT old), also while I was in college, and also sold, in order to meet basic needs.

I did actually attend a concert at the Oklahoma Fairgrounds, though I only stayed for a few songs before I felt completely over-crowded, over-heated, and over-stimulated to each of my six senses. The same thing happened during one other ‘trial run’ at a White Snake concert in the late 80’s. I just didn’t think I was wired to enjoy a concert and frankly I was okay with that.

So when my husband asked me recently if I would be interested in going to a Christian Concert I was at first a bit leery. When he told me the venue and the band I rethought my uncertainty. It was Delirious and it was held at the SNU campus church. I decided worst case, it would be like a crowded Sunday at a BIG church and I’ve done that without pain and suffering, well without TOO much pain and suffering. Plus it was Delirious and I’m a fan!

It was ‘open seating’ but we didn’t rush to be 1st in line…we arrived 45 minutes early and we were still seated well within the first 15 rows. It wasn’t overcrowded. As a matter of fact it wasn’t crowded at all. There were probably 400-500 people there….maybe less. It was LOUD, but intimate.

The opening band was definitely geared towards the teen-aged audience, but they weren’t unbearable. When Delirious took the stage I was struck by their interaction with the audience and ability to lead us all in worship and singing. Even with the small audience, I didn’t feel ‘shorted’ by their ability and desire to reach us and lead us. As they sang I began to feel both the pumping of my heart (from the noise level) and also the piercing of my heart (from the Holy Spirit).

The first clear presence/voice I heard was during the performance of “Majesty”. The Holy Spirit began to move and I heard the Lord ask me; “What are you willing to lay down, to sacrifice for me?”

I began to list off the things I was holding on to…He asked for more. I realized I hadn’t really laid down my own marriage and my husband and his life and purpose, or my own church and church service. Last night I laid them down before Him and I’m not kidding when I say: I felt FREEDOM. I felt such freedom and ‘lightness’ as these things and worries and thoughts that had plagued me were lifted from me.

Later during an instrumental time of worship, and an incredible guitar solo, I was led to think about a book I hadn’t thought about in a LONG time. You may remember it: Tommy Tenney’s “God Chasers”. I felt my mind and soul drifting, it was almost like the way I imagine ‘astral projection’ would be. It was more moving than any physically manifested spiritual movement I’ve felt in the past, if that makes sense.

There is a part of “God Chasers” that talks about a church that was praying for the Holy Spirit to come into their presence. They congregated together and waited and waited…and waited…and waited…and when the Holy Spirit came into their midst, even after hours of experiencing that…no one wanted to leave. They stayed together praying and EXPERIENCING the Holy Spirit for like 18 hours.

God asked me when I would get to this point. When would I seek after the Holy Spirit with such passion that I wouldn’t want to leave His presence when He sent His helper. When would I stand and wait and TRULY experience the Holy Spirit and ALL the Holy Spirit wants to do with and for and through me.

This comes on the heels of some major needs in or church. I shared with my pastor this morning that I while I was completely committed to our church, I wasn’t doing everything God had called me to do with regards to prayer and service and seeking and EXPERIENCING the Holy Spirit for our church. God revealed to me that as our church seeks and waits and begins to experience this power, then and only then will we experience the ‘breaking’ He is preparing to offer us.

I’m clearly having a hard time putting into words this experience, and I doubt I could ever give it justice verbally either. Suffice to say, I’m so glad I went and I thank God that He continues to talk to me so clearly. I pray my spiritual ears would always be open to hear His prodding and pushing and that I would be in His position of movement or silence as He directs.

With regards to the title of this post and my blog...I'm sensing a trend here...at least in MY life!

Have a super blessed Sunday! Did you hear that?