Always Tried and Proven

by Nancy Hopper

  Sadie caught her breath and felt the overwhelming betrayal, the pain and heartbreak that had hit Sam. She could literally feel what he had felt when he’d seen Callie come in. She watched the man kiss Callie, crushing her to his chest; and anger burned through her like a fire.

  “How dare she?” she seethed.

  “I don’t know.” Sam answered tiredly. “I really don’t know. I guess she just doesn’t realize yet. Sadie, tell the worship team to take their time, tonight. I think I’m going to need time to pull myself together, and prepare. If I get ready before they’re done, I’ll let them know.”

  “All right, Sam. We will continue to pray.”

  Sam smiled and shook his head. “Without you guys tonight, I wouldn’t have stood a chance. Thanks.”

  Sadie hugged him soundly, willing herself not to cry. “I'm so sorry, Sam. This is all my fault. I guess I just didn't know her! I never dreamed she'd do something like this to you! Oh, my God!”

  “Sadie, it’s all right. I’m amazed that I let such a little thing undo me.” He assured her. “It doesn’t matter if she comes here with ten men. I don’t care if she sleeps with the city of Montpelier. I’m going to stand in faith for Callie. Her coming here tells me she still cares about me. I’m a fool for letting this undermine my faith. I asked God to get her here, and I told Him I’d deal with any circumstances if He’d just do that much. Well, He did His part, and now it’s time for me to do mine. He’s faithful. He’s going to deliver my wife right into my hands. If not tonight, there will be another night.”

  “But Sam, how could you still even want her after this … this sadistic stunt!” Sadie hissed indignantly.

  Sam shook his head. “You know Callie.” He reproved her gently. “She’s just trying to get my goat. If she weren’t interested in me, she’d be down in New York with this oily Casanova in her bed. But she’s not. She’s here in my tent with her sexiest dress on. She’s not sleeping with that man; you can take it to the bank.”

  “She’s as miserable as I am, and she’s trying to force me to make a move. Well, I won’t do it. Not what she’s looking for, anyway. But before this night is over, we’re going to be looking at a very different picture.”

  “You mark my words, Sadie. God is going to hit her like a freight train tonight. If and when she leaves this tent, she’s going to have a healthy respect for the Lord God Almighty. Now, it’s time to start. You get out there, and don’t you even look at her. Just stand back and watch the hand of the Lord.”

  Tears sprang into Sadie’s eyes. She hugged Sam soundly. “I love you, Samuel. You’re a great man, and that girl does not deserve you.” She said miserably.

  Then, she went out front.

  Sam found that it didn’t take so very long for him to be ready to take over the service. His own words had bolstered his faith, and he was very deep in the Spirit when he went out front.

  “Yes, You are faithful, Lord.” He said in a whisper. He kept his head up and walked tall as he went out into the midst of the worship team. He had no idea of the impact he was having as he came toward the front. He was in total communion with the Holy Spirit, and the glory of the Lord seemed to shine forth from his face, changing his countenance.

  He was looking very sharp and trim in a dark green suit and white shirt, but his face was beautiful. He looked somehow as an angel who had appeared in the wings of the stage and made its way through the worship team to the front.

  As the song that the team was singing ended, scattered applause began to ripple through the house, as Sam appeared. But it soon became clear that he was completely unaware of their presence. A murmur of wonder circled the tent; and soon a shout of praise, and a thunder of applause went up to heaven. An air of expectancy flooded the tent.

  Everyone could see the glory of God pouring through this chosen vessel who stood before them. Silence filled the tent, and lay heavily upon every person there. Sam just stood at the front of the stage, with his hands clasped behind his back, and his head bowed.

  One by one, the worship team around him slowly sank to the floor. Some were suddenly knocked over. Some began to tremble violently, and then fell. But the watching eye could see the hand of God moving across the stage, as one by one, His servants succumbed to His spirit.

  Soon, only Samuel was left standing. Still, he stood humble and silent, waiting. The crowd was so still; it seemed everyone was holding their breath.

  Callie stared at Sam with tight lips, and tears behind her eyes. It hurt to look at him. God, how it hurt. He looked so beautiful, so transparent. So humble, and precious.

  She suddenly felt little, and cheap. Oh, it had been wrong, wrong! To bring Gregory here, to try to hurt Sam and make him jealous, was the most abhorrent thing she’d ever done! He was so precious! He was worth a thousand Gregorys. She only wanted to throw Gregory off the bleachers, and run into Sam’s arms! She felt sick in the pit of her gut, and it only grew stronger as the moments passed.

  She knew that if Sam had seen her with Gregory, it was already too late. He would have gone already through the fire, and now would come out on the other side. She saw his strength as she looked down upon him; yet it was not his own. God had filled Him, and now he was a man that Callie Wilson, with her childish ways and feminine wiles, could never touch again. If he’d seen her tonight with Gregory, it was very simple. She’d lost him for good, having chosen this course of action. Her mother was so wise; why, why couldn't she for once, have listened?

  Pete, Shelly and Rose were staring transfixed at Sam. Callie watched him, too; and they all saw the hand of God on this man. They saw the mantle of power; of healing; of wisdom; of grace and mercy on his shoulders.

  At last, Sam looked up and let his clear eyes travel from one end of the tent to the other. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and clear, but the strength of it was phenomenal. It penetrated as though the people were simply empty vessels, just waiting for the voice to fill them.

  “You who would glorify the Lord God Most High. He has come into His temple. You who would serve Him, the time has come to lay down your lives. For His manifest presence is coming back to His temple, to dwell in the power of His glory. Say no more in your heart, ‘tomorrow’, for the very day has now come, beloved.”

  “There is a window of time for you to come forth and fulfill your destiny in God. Though it is never too late, the time is short, and this is the day when fullness may be achieved. If you wait too long, the Lord will put your intended mantle upon another. You must be obedient. You must not delay.”

  “Just as the virgins did not all prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom, so shall it be for those who do not have an ear to hear, tonight. My son, I have been calling you. Did you not hear me? My daughter, I hand picked you! Did you not sense my touch? I brought you to this place, that you might receive your commission from Me. And yet, you waste much time.”

  Sam closed his eyes. “Peter. My prophet, Peter. Will you come?”

  To the shock of those around him, Peter Wilson fell out of his chair onto his face. Rose and Shelly began to weep with silent joy and thanksgiving.

  Men and women all around the tent followed suit. Sam called out name after name after name, and soon people were dropping out of their chairs as though dead, by the dozens. Callie gripped the arms of her mother and her escort, but it did not stop the Holy Spirit from toppling her onto her face. And Sam did not even speak her name.

  “You do not know the urgency, the seriousness of this hour. Come and seek My face. Seek My purpose, while the door is open. I would that all would walk this earth in the power of My Spirit, as did My Son; but you have not been willing to seek Me. You have not set yourselves aside for Me. Tonight, I am calling. Again, I ask you.”

  Sam waited for the words to sink in. They were having tremendous effect. No one in the tent was without conviction.

  “You who came to hear words pleasing to men, shall hear the voice of the Almighty, instead. You who came to hear minstrels will hear a new song
of My choosing. You who came to see the signs and wonders shall surely see them; and the seeing and the hearing will surely bring conviction and divide you this night. For those who desire Me shall arise and come in repentance; and those who will not serve Me shall arise in fear and run.”

  Sam’s voice only grew in intensity and power as he went on. “The day of deceitful, pleasing voices that pander to men’s flesh is gone. The truth will come like a double-edged sword to divide in the wake of this visitation. Stand in the light, children. Stand in the light and allow exposure of your deepest heart! I will scourge you as sons, but I will heal you, as surely as I cause each day to dawn. Do not be deceived; I am not mocked.”

  Sam looked around the tent with a keen eye. “If you came here tonight looking for the old-time religion, the revival tent thrill, I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place. This is not a move to re-visit a prior glory; you will surely be disappointed. There is an excitement here, but it does not come in the same way it once existed. There is an expectancy, but it will not culminate in an experience that will satisfy your carnal senses, or only your human soul.”

  “Look deeper with me, now. Come deeper into the realm of the Spirit, and find your full, true destiny in God. You see, we have been lulled to slumber by promises of the sweet by and by. We’ve been taught to hold on until Jesus comes back. And the only thing wrong with that, is that we can have God’s fullness today. We can do the works that Jesus did and greater, if we want to take Him at His Word.”

  “We have been taught not to expect power from God. What good does your religion do, if you make no difference in the world around you? Do you believe that My touch is for you, and you alone? Do you think I intend you to sit idly and satisfy yourself -- while with every passing moment, the lost fall more deeply into despair, and stumble further away from My Love?”

  “I tell you now that there is unlimited power in God’s hand, waiting for us to tap into. There is no shortage of His might. We have had no power because we have not had the maturity required to wield His power. But that can surely change, when we set ourselves aside for the Lord – and rip the veils from our faces in honesty. When we de-throne the gods of self; of fear; of vanity; of greed. When we have been through the fire, and emerge tried and proven. Then -- then, we will have His power. And understand that the fire I speak of, will produce fruit. Forgiveness for one another and for one's self; and His Love. If you do not find these changes taking place in your heart, get down on your knees again. You've missed the boat. Love is the only foundation that God has for all that needs to be done in your heart in this earth.”

  Sam’s eyes roamed the stands. “When we are willing to love unconditionally; love our enemies; love those who are most difficult to love – then, we will be able to make a difference in this earth. Then, we will finally begin to accomplish God’s plan for our lives.”

  “The only difference between you and the Apostle Paul; between you and the great healers of our day; between you and the great saints of history; is only one simple word. It is the word ‘yes’. Come with me -- and become God’s gift to this earth, to this generation. A formidable gift of healing power, of grace. Of light, and love.”

  “Every day that we delay, many are lost. They die without the grace of God because we don’t know – or care enough to commit ourselves – to their need. We don’t have anything to give them, except the rhetoric of our religious founders. These are all outpourings of the Holy Spirit that were fresh and powerful; but we began to regulate them, and create religious rules for them.”

  “We don’t see into the souls of men; we don’t have any insight or revelation to give them, fresh from God’s heart, to make them realize how much He loves them!”

  “Our lack is their doom!” We don’t care enough to go to The Cross with our problems, and come back living miracles, to shed Love's light into a lost and dying world.”

  “When will we ever learn that the gift of our salvation and life in Christ is not just for us alone? When we ever finally ‘get it’ -- that we are to become disciples, take ourselves as a living sacrifice, to the cross -- and in turn make a way for others?”

  “When we finally do this, we will become the living, functional Body of Christ – miracles and miracle workers, all of us! There are those who selfishly just suck, suck, suck the life out of every minister they can find, soulishly seeking more and more for self. That’s not how it is meant to be! That is a dead end street, friends.”

  “We are meant to use the gifts that we are given, not take and take, bloated with 'Words' and blessings, blocking the flow of the River of Life, greedily keeping and hoarding all we can, and continually reveling in what we receive. Not looking beyond our own needs, pleasures and desires. When we do this, even living water will stagnate, and become poisonous.”

  “Offer self on the cross! Let Him examine your life; it won't hurt you! Let Him direct you and guide your steps. This is the way to true happiness. Only in living His Love for others can we be effective in His power.”

  Jeremy struggled to the piano, and began to play some sweet riffs on the keys that only heightened the awareness and tension in the place.

  “Every day when I first wake up, I get on my knees, if only for a moment. I say 'Good morning' to my Lord. I say, ‘yes, Lord’. I say 'yes' to the work that I know He has yet to complete in my heart. This way, I’ll never get stuck or stalled. I’ll never bog down in self-complacency. I’m learning to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. I keep asking, what is His pleasure for me that day? Where can I give, what can I do, to further His Kingdom in the earth? Who needs what I have been given? How can I share His Life, His Love, His blessings? You see, this multiplies the blessings, the Love, the power! This prevents the stagnation of selfish contentment. When asking Him what He would have you see, feel and do, you make the work of the cross in your heart, easy; because walking in his Will always brings great joy.”

  “If you want your life today, just say ‘yes’ to Jesus. If you want to change the world around you, say ‘yes’ to Jesus. If you want your life to count for more than simply taking up space on the earth; eating, sleeping, working, and reproducing; then say ‘yes’ to Jesus.

  “Don’t say it, if you don’t want to change. Don’t say it for the experience you might have, for the thrill of His touch. Because, you see, He will touch you; and He will take you at your word. He will change you. He’ll put you in the Refiner’s Fire, and your life will never be the same.”

  “But if you believe it’s worth a scourging to become fit for the Master’s use, then come. There’s a river of living water to drink. You can come and buy gold, refined in the fire. Come.”

  And come, they did. Sam took off his coat, and unfastened the top of his shirt. He rolled up his sleeves, and began to pray. The Holy Spirit swept through the place as he prayed, touching those who had come to the altar.

  “Let repentance come. Let repentance come to the house of the Lord. Let the healing come. Let healing then come to the world.” A voice sang, so rich and clean that it penetrated to the bone. It struck Callie’s ears so acutely. She groaned as it touched her, it pierced and convicted her heart. It was sweeter than any voice she’d ever heard, yet deeper and fuller than anything she’d known could exist.

  She heard Rose gasp above her, for she was still slumped on the floor. “My God in heaven, that’s Sam singing!”

  Callie had never heard such a passionate, beautiful voice. “Come to the feet of the Lord. If you are thirsty, come and drink. You who are hungry, come and eat. You who are lost, come and find your way. Come to the feet of the Lord. Come to the feet of the Lord.”

  Callie gave an anguished cry. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, only to discover that she was essentially alone. Her mother and Shelly were already on the tent floor below, awaiting prayer. Peter was staggering along behind them, nearly unable to walk. The stair aisle was filled with people making their way to the tent floor for prayer. The resp
onse was simply phenomenal.

  Callie’s legs seemed to have no strength, yet she knew that she simply must get down to that tent floor. She must. She couldn’t see too much, through the tears that were streaming from her eyes. So, she crawled. She sat and she scooted. Whatever it took, she kept moving. When she got to the floor, her nylons in tatters, her high heels long gone, she simply stumbled to her knees and stayed put. It seemed like forever that she knelt there and cried.

  You may not be accustomed to seeing people prostrate. You may not understand it. Don't let it stop you! Don't allow it to be a stumbling block. Get what you need from God tonight and do not allow this little things to get in the way. Everyone responds differently to the touch of God's hand. It makes no difference to you. Come to the Lord, and He will meet your need. Kneel where you are, if you prefer. He doesn't care if it's here, or there. You don't have to be Pentecostal to receive from God. And you need not resist Him because someone else here, is. Get over it, and get on your knees to Him!”

  Sam's words sent a jolt of reaction through the tent. Those who'd been frightened or put off by the people who couldn't seem to stand or walk, began to eagerly sink to their knees, right where they were. This, they could embrace. This, they could do! Power began to flow as the unity built among them all. Each one present, began to put aside their prejudices, their excuses, their criticisms of the 'excessive behaviors' of others that they had objected to so stringently, just a few seconds before. Excitement built, as the atmosphere changed, and became electric! Prayer rose from every pair of lips. People began to weep; some with joy, some with repentance or deliverance. Some, as they released fears and bitterness, unforgiveness and pain.