We attended Avivamiento again today. I didn't think I would have much to say after Friday's service, but that church never ceases to amaze me. The service lasted almost 4 hours again.
It started normally with passionate worship. They did some of the same songs from Friday which made it easier to pick up on them. Then the healing part was again powerful. The deaf hear, the lame walk, feeling restored, pain eliminated. Then Pastor Ricardo's oldest son gave the salvation call again. They purposefully do this mid service immediately after the healing so that the people can see and experience God's immense power then accept him as their Savior. It was the same as Friday but I actually got to hear the translation. Then offering along with a testimony about the rewards of faithful tithing. Pastor Ricardo began his message giving his passage of choice. Then he made an announcement about the CD they recorded live at Avivamiento and produced. It is called Enfermo de Amor. I would highly recommend purchasing it off iTunes. Pastor Ricardo said, let's worship, and as the worship team and orchestra began again, he went down to pray over them, claiming them to be addicts of the Holy Spirit and sick with love, the title of the CD. They were completely overcome by the Spirit, many falling to the floor or weeping at their instrument. It was so powerful. Pastor walked back on stage but almost immediately walked back down to pray over the many pastors from different countries that were in attendance and sitting in our section. He claimed the same thing over their lives. As he finally walked back to the pulpit to once again begin his message, he proudly proclaimed, This is why we don't have a set schedule. We let the Holy Spirit direct our course. So so inspiring.
This message was extremely powerful. He spoke on David and Goliath. David was literally facing a giant in his life. We also face giants in our lives. However, God anointed David to defeat his giants and the Word of the Lord is a stone in our hand to throw at the enemy. For three reasons God allows giants into our lives: so all the earth will know there is a God in heaven, he wants to show that he does not save by javelin or sword, but by mighty spiritual weapons, and he wants to teach that the battle is his. The crowd reacted with fiery passion. It was incredible. There was alot of jumping up and down and shouting of amen.
All the pastors were taken on stage and prayed for. We were brought up late and were taken backstage where Pastor Ricardo personally greeted us and encouraged to take hold of the word spoken today and claim it in our lives. He laid hands on us and once again, we quickly found the floor. On the bus ride to lunch, our team was bubbling with the joy of the Spirit. We went to Carbon de Palo, an amazing steak restaurant where hardly anyone could finish the large portions. We finally arrived to our Colombian home around 5 (yes, church and lunch lasted from 8 to 5). We are trying to rest up for the next few packed days. If only we wouldn't stay up so late playing signs and other games. Tonight the rest of our team joins us after attending the state tournament this weekend!! Tomorrow is our all time favorite school. Looking forward to it!!
