So in Part 1 I mentioned my tee shirts getting turned inside out in the washing machine. It turns out Ron Walborn's Monday night session was about to do the same to me – but not at ALL how I anticipated it might.
 |
(really – if you haven't yet, stop now and go read Part 1!) |
At the end of Part 1 I had “encouraged” Karen by pointing out what she just witnessed: “I just saw three guys lead that woman out of the auditorium. Perhaps you should go join them so there's a woman with her.”
|
And she kindly replied, “It wasn't a woman; Ron had it wrong. It's one of the guys.” Now I'll admit to sometimes being a bit slow on the uptake – I just wandered back to my seat and stood there for a minute before it hit me: My gosh – that's one of the guys from MY Squad. I need to go join them! |
 |
So off I went; out the door and there they were, right outside the auditorium door in a hallway, and the racer (Jake – read his account here: http://jakebrinkman.theworldrace.org/?filename=real-intense-spiritual-warfare-part-2 Actually – go ahead and read parts one and three as well) was lying on the floor with two of the senior race leaders and another Squad's coach who happens to be a pastor. After a few minutes we helped Jake walk down the hall into a classroom.
I had my hand on Jake's shoulder, or held his hand, or patted him gently on the back for the next 30 or so minutes while the other guys directly ministered to him. Pretty much right away they said it was clear that something was trying to stop the Holy Spirit. And then they told Jake that, with his permission, they were going to try and cast out the demon which had just manifested in him.
For what it's worth, although only a few minutes had passed since I prayed for the Holy Spirit to work in me, my skepticism was GONE. I could tell that something was wrong in Jake and that these guys had the God-given unconditional ability to calmly deal with it.
 |
From that point on I tried my best to follow and comprehend what was going on – in Jake and in the room. What struck me in particular was the absolute calm with which the other guys handled he situation, and the authority – that's right AUTHORITY – with which they took charge in the name of Jesus. |
And I kept thinking back to the words Ron said earlier – surrender and trust the work of the Holy Spirit within me. After much prayer the demons were gone, the Holy Spirit came upon Jake and he was calmed and renewed. I too was a changed person.
As Jake left the room to join the rest of the Squad I stood with these three strong men of god and wept. Only 30 minutes before I would not have felt worthy to be in the same room with them praying this young man through his trial. All I could do was whisper thanks to them, and praises to Him. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God moves and He delivers! (I'll let Pastor Jay tell his own story – nudge nudge – for it seems he too was touched that evening.)
| As we walked back into the auditorium Karen – the love of my life and my spiritual mentor – suggested that God had a tremendous sense of humor to pick that particular situation for my trial under fire. But I think she knew what God knew all too well – that my skepticism wouldn't be overcome by lectures or even testimony, but that I'd have to experience it myself. |  |
And boy did I experience a bunch! I still cannot really describe the feeling of euphoria that I felt – intensely for 24 hours and strongly still weeks later – over this experience with the Holy Spirit.
The racers refer to it as, “That Night”. A.W. Tozer supposedly said: “I have never met a man or woman who was filled with the Holy Spirit who didn't know it.” Jake may have had the most brutal initial confrontation, but the next day dozens upon dozens of the racers knew they too had been filled with the Holy Spirit. Each story was different, each racer experienced it in their own way.
 |
For me, I suppose it was a bit like being tossed into a washing machine; I expected to be cleaned up – but He took my unbelief and skepticism and turned me inside out. He used this teaching moment to take me by the arm and get me directly involved. He prepared me first so I could participate and in so doing he could set me straight. |
What a mighty God we serve! I am in awe of Him.
