Atmospheric Shift

Have you ever thought about the day of pentecost? There were only 120 individuals gathered in the upper room in the second chapter of Acts. But when the Holy Spirit came upon them there must have been a major shift in the spiritual atmosphere around them. We know this becuase thousands of people were drawn to the place that they were praying. No just the sound of them praying could have drawn such a crowd. The very atmosphere around them must have been charged with the electricity of the Holy Spirit upon them. Atleast that is how I imagine it.

My Dad and I have been in Thailand for not quite 48 hours. And yet from the time we have spent praying and speaking with Thai's on the streets we sense a major change. Thailand is not the same as when I left. The violence in the southern most provinces has increased in recent months with reverberating effects reaching to Bangkok. There have also been terrorist attacks here in the city. The drastic change in governement in October (a coup), although peaceful, undermined the economy in a major way. During lunch time today we visited a road side open air restuarant. My Dad and I pulled out two tracks in Thai and began to practice reading them...outloud....and loud enough for the people sitting across from us to hear. Naturally they struck up a conversation with us. We began to ask them questions about Thailand. One young man in his late twenties explained, "Thailand has changed so much. The economy is so bad and many people are worried. Crime has also increased. Many Thai's miss our old government. Many people are also afraid." We have heard this time and again. Thai's are restless.

I have also spent time with close Christian friends of mine. They explain to me that they have seen incredible demonstrations of the Lord's spirit in recent months. Two months ago the current government called for a buddhist ceremony to pray for a high leader of the country. In Thai tradition, they wrapped white strings to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits around the area. Christian friends of ours decided to drive around the area that the ceremony was to be held and pray. The day of the ceremony came and in the middle of the night all of the strings fell off the building. It was seen as a bad sign and the meeting was was canceled. God is powerful and at work in this country!!

I sense the urgency as well as the incredible opportunity of this time. We are well positioned, well equipped, and eager. Please pray that the Lord will pour out His Glory on this nation. I sense that the Lord longs to pour out of His spirit on this nation. The atmosphere has already shifted in the country, but now it is time for bold Christians like Peter to stand up and explain what is happening. I volunteer!