Holy Spirit Power

Let me tell you about the Spirit of Power
sent from the Father and Son one fine hour

when women and men were gathered in prayer
one hundred and twenty were said to be there

a loud rushing wind announcing His coming
then tongues of hot fire to get them all humming

in languages heard by citizens gathered
from dozens of countries where Jews had been scattered

which spoke of the greatness of God now proclaiming
what is this new wonder they all were exclaiming

so Peter got up to explain this strange show
and talked about Jesus beginning with Joel

who said that our God would pour out His Spirit
with visions and dreams so lost men would hear it

proclaimed to the ends of a very big earth
that Jesus has died so all could have worth

and the good news for us who sit here and read
is that Spirit still moves in power and deed

giving gifts to all people reborn in Christ Jesus
to build up the church and not just to please us

although some indeed do comfort our soul
to mold us and form us so we will be whole

and these we call fruits like love, peace and joy
or patience, long-suffering and others, oh boy!

yet now we must mention to build up the body
apostles and prophets and teachers not shoddy

and even today greater works we will see
with miracles, healing and wonders for thee

divine words of knowledge and wisdom are shared
tongues with interpretation also are paired

which calls for discernment a most vital gift
what spirit or prophetic word it must sift

and last but not least for our private prayers
the Spirit with tongues of languages shares

when our understanding falters and fails
and we groan to the Father not knowing details

I've prayed in this way for forty-five years
seen people healed and delivered from fears

opened the Word setting my heart afire
all this and much more for you my desire

knife fight

We heard there'd be a rumble coming
somewhere out there
maybe in the dark back of da alley
perhaps it be in some fool garage
ol Snatch, he threw down a challenge
"Come out, come out if ye dare
I be here waiting for you fool!"

We sat so still an listened
frightful we was to even peek out
it all seemed most uncomfortably quiet
I see my hand be wet and shaking
and then, I hear a voice, deep and slow
right thru the walls it answers back
"Courthouse square, five minutes"

Four minutes go by an no one moves
but Mister, you have to know that
it was like we was pulled out, all of us
made our way outside toward dat courthouse
we git near and sure enough
Snatch be just leaning against a post, smirking
and letting da sun flash off dat ten inch blade

Next to da square there be this little church
every Sunday da bell ring an I hear tell
dat a nice group of folk git all dressed up
to hear some preachin an do some singin
an some of their women make ham buns
for those days dat people git hitched
or them days dat some poor sod git's buried

Dat church be quiet for awhile
seems it's preach got sceered by Snatch
left town without so much as a hey dilly dilly
me, I never knew him. I say goodbye
to religion years ago when Pa left
an good riddance to him dat drunkin S O B
he never came to say nothin when Ma passed

Now a new preach come to town
first thing he do is start painting dat old place
pulls weeds an spruces up da joint
I hear music around there now like everyday
an I thinks dat's all made Snatch right mad
see, folks be starting to sing those songs
at home, with neighbors join in for goodness sake!

Five minutes is up and out those large wood doors
come Preach, holding onto this old bible
he don't look feared at all, in fact I say
he be looking most determined, most determined
I look at Snatch an he still be grinning
but I notice dat he lower his blade
an he be takin a step back

Preach stride forward an we all lean in a bit
fearin da worse but now a wondrin
he git close an I see his hair done shine like a helmet
an his vest seems to be most righteous
like nothin could hurt that man
then, with a voice calm but firm he say
"You git, an don't come back".

Well, we all been fixin on Preach an didn't see
that Snatch be gone, poof - disappeared
somehow my shoulders now feel all lite like
as I was a wonderin, Preach, he looks at me
says he hasn't seen me much an asks
if I got time to come by for some fixins
"Ham buns?" I ask - "Lamb chops" he say

Book Review: Ekklesia by Ed Silvoso

Today is Pentecost and I've just finished reading quite an interesting book that I received free from Chosen Book Publishers about how the Holy Spirit is moving in a powerful way during these last days. Ekklesia by Ed Silvoso is now available in several formats from Amazon Books.

The title Ekklesia loosely means 'the Church in the marketplace'. The author contends that we need to expand our vision as to how we view what "Church" is. This means that we see Church not just as a place with programs and ministries where we invite people to but also as the world or marketplace at large where each believer, led by the Holy Spirit, is a shepherd and each non-believer is a sheep who needs one.

The marketplace is defined as where we work or places outside of Church in which we interact on a regular basis. It is our work, our neighborhood, our town, our state.

This book was a little difficult for me to get into right away because I had slight disagreements with certain broad statements made by Silvoso. However I was kept going because of several wonderful examples of community transformation made by men and woman who were obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading. Then toward the end Silvoso puts everything together and the principles and vision he presented made a lot of sense.

Here are the high lights for me:

I found it interesting how Silvoso describes poverty. Everyday in my job as a Road Test Examiner I encounter the full range of humanity in a city with a population of a couple hundred thousand. Many of these people are poor or don't work because they are on some type disability. Silvoso, originally from a small village in Argentina, says that systemic poverty has four dimensions: spiritual, relational, motivational and material. All of these aspects need to be ministered to for an effective transformation.

Silvoso teaches that there are 4 steps in being an effective evangelist in the marketplace. The first is that we have to learn to bless and not curse. The world and Satan already place many people under a curse but curses are broken by blessings. So we need to speak peace to people.

The second step is to start to fellowship with the unbeliever. Both of these actions indicate to that person that they have worth and our love toward them in this way breaks down many barriers.

Next comes the point where we ask them if we can help them with any of their needs or if they would like prayer for anything. This step of ministry is done without any judgments.

Then lastly, because we are representatives of the Kingdom of God, and because the Kingdom has now come next to the person in need, we present the Kingdom to them in love.

After reading this part I get a client the next day who was someone whose looks and bearing made my skin crawl. The deep spiritual oppression in his life was very evident. I actually thought to myself; "Lord, you've got to be kidding. You want me to love him? Not this person!" Honestly, I fell short and didn't even make any chit chat, but I'm learning. Hopefully I will do much better the next time.

There is much, much more presented that makes Ekklesia an important read not only for Church leaders but for individual Christians as well. Many are prophesying that there is one last great move of the Holy Spirit before the return of Christ. The Holy Spirit of course always breaks out of the old forms and I would not be surprised if He chooses what is described in this book during these last days as the means for vast millions to come to know Christ in a very short time.