A NIGHT IN JUIZ DE FORA, MINAS GERAIS
I am in Brazil and hundreds are coming to the services. In Juiz de Fora, a large gothic cathedral of the Methodist Church was filled with souls. The humming of joy spread throughout the congregation. People were in expection mode. Smiles and laughter filled the air as if someone important was about to arrive.
We were waiting for Senhor Jesus to come in. The ladies draped themselves with the warmest clothing they could find, since the temperature was in the low 50′s. For the men and women from North Carolina, the weather was of no concern. But everyone else was feeling the pain of the coldest night in the year in Brazil.
Pastor Boyd Byerly is a strong 6’3″ man who fills the frame of a powerful football player. When he began to preach I felt as if my lungs would not catch up with the massive delivery of that sermon. The Holy Spirit began to minister from the first words he said…” I want to encourage you tonight. You are more than conquerers!” The eyes of the crowd seem to be begging for more and as the tone increased in his deep voice, I heard the Lord saying to me…” Tonight I will baptize with power all who come forward.”
Whatever was hurting in me began to feel good. My 40 days of preaching, my 3 weeks without fasting, my 5 hours of sleep from the night before, all of it began to rejoice and be healed. I noticed a young lady in tears on my right in the first 10 minutes of that sermon…”You have to live in expectation as to what God is going to do!”
Have you ever been driving through the countryside when a storm is forming ahead of you? The wind builds up and you feel as if you are going to get really wet. Well, I began to feel the same way. I began to feel that I would be inside the storm of the Holy Spirit in a matter of 15 minutes.
The invitation came and over 200 people ran to the altar. I did not know if I would stand with those praying at the altar or reach to the whole group as if embracing every one of them. Finally I climbed back into the tall, gothic pulpit and began to pray. After a while, I heard the Lord say to me,” If you go down and touch these persons I will bless them with My power.” Energy came inside of my body. I began to lay hands on anyone in my path. It took 3 hours to finish and the Holy Spirit left a mark in that church which will last forever.
This coming November 1-12, I want to go to the Lake of Galillee and spend time with Jesus. I want to come to His altar and let him touch me like I have never been touched before. Just like in Brazil, I want the rain of the Holy Spirit to pour from heaven.
Lord Jesus, thank you for Central Methodist Church in Juiz de Fora. Thank you Lord for Eloisa who did the cooking and for all who made the weekend possible. Bless them, Lord.
Rick Bonfim
Edited by Betty McKinney
It is a joy for me to read about the wonderful, anointed ministry of Brother Rick and others, who take Jesus’ commission to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” seriously. And especially those, who like Rick, take that step of faith which includes the rest of Jesus’ mandate: “These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues,…they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
I am so grateful for the way the Holy Spirit is moving in Brazil, and for those people whose lives have been transformed as a result!
Thank you for sharing this, and may God continue to bless you and your powerful ministry!
Because of HIS Commission,
Jerry Yates
Jerry Yates Ministries
http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/jerryyates
Comment by Jerry Yates — August 2, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Praise the Lord!
And I’m thankful that I was part of this huge spiritual feast!
I had the privilege of translating Pr.Boyd’s preaching on Friday the 27th of July. And I have to admit that many times during the preaching it was hard for me to translate. Not because of language issues, but because as I translated I was being touched by that wonderful message. It spoke directly to my heart!
And I also have the privilege of being the son of Eloiza (who is mentioned here in this post!).
God bless you all!
Alexandre
Comment by Alexandre de Oliveira — August 2, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Rick, I rejoice, but I believe the Lord is saying, “The rain that I will pour out on the Rekindle the Flame” will dwarf what you’ve seen in Brazil this year. . There’s a cloud about the size of a man’s fist over Athens, but it is growing and will continue to grow and cover the entire city. There rain is coming! Are you ready for a new outpouring and a new baptism from on high?”.
Looking up and anticipating the rain over Athens!
Comment by Eric Sizemore — August 2, 2007 @ 9:57 pm