Life's Changes-Beaver K

Let's delve into Chapter 5

   So we showered up and went to McDonald's for breakfast and while we were sitting there eating, at about 7:00, who drives through the drive-through?  Frances with her new friend.  We both looked at each other but not a word was spoken between brothers.  I really couldn't believe I was in a real living nightmare!  It was bad enough for me, but I had no idea what my brother, Steven, was thinking.  This had to be an attack of the enemy, for Steven had not slept now for three days and two nights.  I had no idea how he was even functioning.  It was like one big kick in the groin!
     All the way to the correctional facility, there was not a word spoken.  We went in and had our usual meetings; prayer, coffee, plenty of cookies and fellowship with the men about the Lord.  Several talks were given that day.  Steven's was next to the last and it was on how to discover God through Jesus.
     I read Steven's talk before walking out, placing it on the platform, and I must say, it was rather good.  It did catch all the key points as he said.  
     Now, before any man delivers his talk, we take him into the chapel to pray over him.  This is what we call 'praying him up'.  That day was more of a special day for me for this was the very first time I would lay hands on my brother with this prayer.  As we prayed over him, I had never seen this happen to a man before!  He burst out from deep down inside with a cry I had never heard!  And as we laid hands on him, he started to shake.  I really didn't know what to do but keep on praying.  The more intense prayer we had, the more intense the crying became.  Then he started to perspire.  I had never seen anything like this in all my time in the ministry!  
     After the praying ceased, Steven said it felt like fire had fallen on him that was burning inside from his head to his toes.  I had to admit I had no answers for him but to say it was the anointing of the Lord.  I can't tell you what intense pressure my brother was under.  He had not slept and had very little to eat.  What I can tell is that he was truly committed to doing what God had called him to do.  
     So I walked him out to the podium.  He stood there for a minute and then he asked for a glass of water.  Then he said the Kairos prayer before speaking as we all had done.  
     Then it was like a great silence came over the auditorium and I could see my brother was in trouble.  He stood there, frozen.  And there was dead silence.  You could hear a pin drop.  Everyone was looking at him.  He looked down at his talk that he had written.  I could tell he was trying to speak but the words were not coming out.
     Then he looked up towards the ceiling and said these words I will never forget, "Oh, Lord, help me!  Help me, Jesus, Father God!  You got me into this, and if it's messed up, You did it.  Now, I don't want to hear one word about it!"
     Everyone must have thought this was part of his talk but I knew for a fact, it was nothing he had written.  The whole atmosphere changed.  You could actually smell the aroma of God!  I had never witnessed anything like this nor had any of the other men of the Kairos team.  
     My brother reached down, picked up the microphone and started to speak and stepped out from behind the podium where his pages for his talk were placed.  He spoke for thirty minutes without stopping and never said one word that he had written. 
     I was truly amazed, to say the least.  I had never seen the anointing of God on a man like this.  In the thirty minutes he spoke, it seemed to penetrate every ear and every heart that was there that day.
     When he finished, he said, "Amen and thank You, Jesus!"
     When he shoved the mike down on the holder, the whole auditorium erupted!  People were clapping, whistling and jumping up and down.  There were a couple of guys standing up in their chairs.  It was excitement!  A couple of correctional officers walked in trying to get a handle on the situation.  Then I thought I'd like to see this much excitement in some churches.  This might start a revival!
     My brother seemed to be lost.  He was going back and forth trying to find the door to the chapel that we had just come out of no more than forty-five minutes ago.  After everything had calmed down, I grabbed Steven by the arm and led him back to the chapel and we proceeded to what we call 'praying him down'.
     One man called him, 'The new jewel of Mt. Olive' and said, "Wow!  That was so powerful!  It was totally awesome!"  But my brother was at a loss for words.
     I think the Lord filled your mouth with the words you spoke" I told Steven.  
     After we had stopped praying and said 'Amen', Steven almost collapsed.  He said he felt so drained.
     "Brother, I think you have just been used of the Lord in a mighty way!  What you did was really awesome!  It really pierced the men's hearts and minds!" 
     I can't remember anything I said but 'Amen' and 'Thank You, Jesus!'  Did it sound pretty good, what I had on the paper?"
     "Yes, it sounded really great but you didn't say one word that you wrote on the paper, Steven."
     "That's right!" Steven said.  "I remember now.  I couldn't read my own handwriting."
     As we were sitting in the chapel and the men came in, Steven said, "Boy, I sure do hope I said something that would help somebody."
     All the men were already in the chapel; all forty-five of them.  The Scripture for the day was read and right then it was time for these men to accept Salvation;  to confess and believe.  So we bowed our heads and prayed.  Many men came forth and accepted the Lord!  Then several men started coming to Steven and thanking him for what he had spoken.
     Steven looked a little confused.  Then he said, "Please, everyone needs to thank God!  Whatever came out of my mouth, the Lord gave it to me.  There is no way I could think of great things to say like that.  And you need to give God all the praise and all the glory!"
     I was really a special time in our lives.  Steven paid a great price that day.  He denied himself and did the will of the Lord.  It would have been so easy for him to just quit and go home and cry.  The commitment he made to the Lord months before was fulfilled.
     Now, one might think that in doing the work of the Lord, God might put a hedge of protection around you.  And that there would be angels flying above you or a great rainbow, blue skies and sunshine.  Perfect weather!  But what happened that day was like a calm before the hurricane.  
     So we adjourned that day and went back to the church where we were staying, had our usual business meeting and bunked down for the night.  The next morning, when we woke up, no one could find Steven. 

       We all have our strengths. I’ve perfected mine so you can focus on yours. Get in touch to find out how I can help.