Awake Portugal - Impartation

© Focus on Jesus. Focus on Souls. ©

August 5, 2001 - Sunday

It was Sunday, the Lord's day. Jim gave us a choice to visit a local church. Almost the whole team went. The church sent three vans to pick us up. Its pastor was one of the worship lead singers in the crusades. They rent a theater for the Sunday service. They bring in their music equipment and other supplies each Sunday morning. They have a solid worship band and singers. Pastor led the beautiful worship. I felt God's strong presence. Before the offering, the assistant pastor told us they had been praying and raising fund for a permanent place to hold the services. Then, we had communion in remembrance of Jesus.

Jim Encourages the Local Church

Jim gave the sermon. A young translator translated the message into Portuguese. Holy Spirit was upon both of them. Using a prophecy the Lord had given him recently and various verses, Jim encouraged the local congregation for a change in our life for God. God will move in Portugal and churches need to be ready. Here is the prophecy Jim received:

“I am stirring your spirit for change. I am coming to you with change, says the Lord. Do not fear for I will strengthen you and help you. I will even hold you up with my hand. I consider this my responsibility. Let me hold you up in this season. You will go forward and you will experience a season of aloneness in Me. This will be our time of commitment together in this process. Even though you have been hungry for My will, the things that I am about to do you have not asked for. They are in My plan and in My will. They are more glorious than you can imagine. I am going to heap upon you the rewards of faithfulness. I am going to give you a divine confidence that will transcend all the fear. Move and I will move with you, says the Lord, for this is my time of acceleration and accomplishment in the Spirit."

At the end of the message, Jim called forward the leadership team and all who desire a fresh touch from God to be prayed for. The platform, the front of the theater and aisles were all jam packed. Team members spread out to pray for people. Instead of squeezing down the narrow aisles, I walked to the back and prayed for some who sat at their seats. They did not go forward to the front. Maybe one day, in their continual hunger of God, they will become bold for Jesus. May the Lord bless leaders and sheep in this and all other churches in Lisbon. Prepare them ready for the Portugal revival. May the Lord set His Portugal people free and bless them indeed.

Sunday Afternoon Relaxation

In the afternoon, team went out for fun in groups. Ruth, Lori, Elena, Vicky and me went to the beach. Ruth was the group leader. We took subway, then a train along the coast and the taxi. It took about an hour. I gobbled down the McFish before catching the taxi in front of McDonald. Then, I savored the McSalad on the sand. Coming from California, the Lisbon coastal scenery was not too amazingly impressive. Yet the water seemed bluer and cleaner than the California beaches I’ve visited. Well, this was the Atlantic Ocean here. It must have been different from the Pacific Ocean I was used to see. The sound of the Atlantic waves was soothing. Unfortunately, the Atlantic wind blew. I felt as if I had been in the crusade. Worse than the crusade wind, it got so strong we felt sands beating our skins in a windstorm. Now, I could imagine what a sandstorm was like in the movie Star Wars Episode I. After taking few pictures, we called for taxis and headed back home.

Nice Dinner at the Hotel

Joining at Angel and Karen’s table, I had an asparagus soup and mixed salad right in the hotel restaurant. It was a relaxing and comforting meal. We three chatted about relatives and other relationships. I felt I could sit down and enjoy the food in peace and not feeling exhausted or the sore legs and feet. Jim came and conversed with us for ten minutes.

In Portugal, almost all restaurants charged the bread and butter placed on the table. This hotel restaurant did not do this. They had a slightly different way. For appetizer, not at our request, they brought to every guest a small plate of two potato sticks garnished with lettuce, shredded carrot and two olives. We enjoyed it and later our bill revealed it wasn’t free. Karen jokingly asked Jim to pay for the two olives he took from her appetizer plate. Having Lebanese heritage, Jim loved olives.

Team Meeting

At 9:30 p.m., we gathered for a meeting to share about our afternoon trips, thoughts about the crusades, and updates from Teen Challenge. Blane reminded us it was Sunday morning and afternoon in different parts of America. We prayed for God to move in all American churches, bring down the religious spirit and turn the hearts of the churchgoers around for Jesus.