How to See a Holy Ghost Breakout

One afternoon I was in a church service in a regional area.

During the service the congregation sang about revival; there was a special number, the theme of which was revival; they prayed for revival; and they preached about revival.

Then they were about to close the service.

But before they did, they invited me to take a moment to speak. (I guess it wasn't every day they saw a visitor from afar.)

So I stood and greeted the congregation, and said:

"Today we've sung about revival; we've heard a special number about revival; we've prayed for revival; and we've had a sermon about revival. Now, would you like to 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 a revival?"

They looked at me quizzically.

"God has heard your prayers for revival," I continued, "and He's probably thinking, 'Okay, I'm ready to give you the revival.' But then we were about to close the service - yet we haven't actually allowed Him time to give us the answer to our prayers, to give us the revival.

How about we stay another 20 minutes," I proposed, "and give time to the Holy Spirit to do anything else He wants".

(I knew that once they started tasting the power of the Holy Spirit, they wouldn't mind if it went longer.)

Everyone happily agreed - although many probably didn't quite know what to expect.

"We'll sing one song," I suggested, "then we'll sing no more - we'll just give the time to the Lord".

So we sang just one song, and then we prayed a prayer simply inviting the Holy Spirit to have the time.

(We didn't sing more than that; the musicians didn't keep playing - otherwise it would have gotten in the way of what the Lord was about to do.)

Nearly straightaway a number of people started shaking, sitting in their seats.

A wave quickly swept across the congregation.

It wasnt a quiet moment. They were crying, getting filled with the Spirit, and filled with joy.

All were receiving spontaneously, without an altar call nor laying on of hands, just sitting or standing at their seats.

20 minutes soon went by, still nobody wanted to go home.

They were finally receiving what they'd been earnestly desiring so long.

If we desire to see a Holy Ghost breakout, often the key is practical: be intentional about making room for Him, in the meeting.

Often, even when we sense the touch of God come, we do something else, instead of just letting it take over.

Like, we close the meeting; or we move on with the next item on the program; or here's a big one: the band keeps playing, which inevitably puts parameters on other expressions of the Spirit; or we express the Spirit only in ways we're already familiar with, like prophesying, perhaps, or opening up a prayer line. Those things are all okay, in the right time too.

But when you desire a congregation-wide Holy Ghost breakout - a move of God - when you sense the touch of God come, abandon the proceedings at that point, hand it over, really let the Holy Spirit hold the floor and have the room.

Don't let any other activities, words or even songs compete for the congregation's focus at that moment.

Just really let it roll.

After everyone's been touched and filled, the next level is: some might begin to spontaneously express what they've received. Like, some might share visions they've seen; or prophesy; or address the congregation in an unknown tongue, and interpret it

Or, a wave of deliverance might sweep into the room.

Or, a wave of repentance and forgiveness.

Tears. Then everyone's mouths might be filled with laughter.

Someone might spontaneously sing a brand new song.

It might be surprising who God uses - youth, or even children.

After it's all been allowed to take its course: that might be the time the people will really want to sing and praise God in the meeting again.

In many meetings, I've sensed again and again that we came right to the brink of seeing that type of a Holy Ghost breakout, but something else so often competed for the meeting's focus - even though we weren’t short on desire for it, nor short of good intentions.

It's like: you can't sing or talk, and drink a glass of water at the same time. Similarly, we've hoped for a Holy Ghost breakout, but carried on doing other things at the same time. Often, it's really just that simple and practical.

Give it a go. Relinquish time in the meeting, to the Lord.

I’m not talking about silence. Quite the opposite. I’m talking about the sight and sound of the outpouring of the Spirit being the thing.

If nothing happens, of course do something else.

But I think you'll find, the touch of God will spread across the floor, there'll come an expression.

𝐈 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝟓:𝟏𝟗
𝟏𝟗 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝟒:𝟑𝟏
𝟑𝟏 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝟏𝟑:𝟓𝟐
𝟓𝟐 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭.