The first night of Feast 2012 at Ein Gedi will always remain an unforgettable experience for us. The opening evening along the shores of the Dead Sea was exceptionally hot this year. But as our guest speaker Angus Buchan began his message by reading from Acts chapter 2, about the Holy Spirit falling on the disciples like a “rushing mighty wind”, the atmosphere quickly changed… Watch the video »
Even as Angus read these words, a fresh breeze began to blow. Upon closing his Bible to preach, the wind became stronger and eventually the stage had to be evacuated. Only Angus was left there, preaching. Within minutes, the winds also brought gentle, refreshing rains.As all this transpired, something else took place backstage. Some overheated wires in the TV transmission truck caught fire, interrupting the live satellite feed.
Now all three manifestations – of wind, fire and rain – are frequently used in the Bible as symbols of the Holy Spirit (for example, Isaiah 44:3-4; John 3:8; Acts 2:4). The wind, fire and rain we saw were not the wind, rain or fire of the Holy Spirit. But I truly believe in my heart that God gave us a powerful sign that night of His great desire to pour out His Spirit on all of us. It became an affirmation for us of our Feast theme, “The Spirit of Grace and Supplication”. From that first night onward, we received testimonies of God changing people’s lives. Reconciliations took place! People were filled with the Holy Spirit! Our faith was increased for revival!
With the gusting winds shaking the sound and light systems around the stage, we had to ask the crowds to stay back in their seats, but still they surged forward. Angus later stated that he had never experienced a meeting like that. Normally, he said, one needs to coax people to come forward for an altar call, but here he asked them to stay back. Yet people still came in their masses.
So the biggest sign for us that night was not the wind, the rain or the fire, but it was the people of God themselves. The storm could have easily caused chaos or mass panic among the 4,500 people gathered at Ein Gedi. But instead, they pressed forward to receive prayer even when Angus and the ushers urged them to stay back. The chaotic weather actually revealed the spiritual hunger in God’s people. We continued to witness this over the following days as record crowds attended the early morning prayer meetings and then lingered late at night in the afterglow worship. God indeed visited us and our faith was emboldened to expect more from Him in the days ahead!
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Ryan and Sara Delling are full time missionaries on staff with Eagles’ Wings Ministries since 2002. All Staff members of Eagles’ Wings have the privilege of developing a partnership team to undergird their ministry assignment. Eagles’ Wings staff missionaries are currently building partnership teams to cover basic living and ministry expenses enabling them to stay on the field.
Ryan and Sara Delling are full time missionaries on staff with Eagles’ Wings Ministries since 2002. All Staff members of Eagles’ Wings have the privilege of developing a partnership team to undergird their ministry assignment. Eagles’ Wings staff missionaries are currently building partnership teams to cover basic living and ministry expenses enabling them to stay on the field.
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