the war we're fighting...

"For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty power of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12 NLT

before we headed to the Children's Home that we were scheduled to play at. our contact informed us of how heavy her heart has been during the day (it was an evening concert). she led us into a time of scriptures and prayer. we prayed for courage. we prayed for strength. most importantly, we prayed for wisdom and a sensitive ear to the Lord's spirit. we didn't know a whole lot about the venue. we didn't know too much about the teenagers we were going to encounter except that they're either sexual abusers or they've been sexually abused. we didn't really know what to expect. we were asked to do an acoustic set (meaning, an acoustic guitar, a bass guitar and amp, two eons (main speakers), two mics, djembe/djimbe). for some strange reason, i always have the misconception that acoustic sets don't sound as good and they're not as effective. but that's just me.

we stepped into the room we're supposed to play in. we set up. we planned a set list. we just didn't know what to expect. but, i felt an incredible sense of peace and excitement (contradicting emotions? kind of). i was at peace because i wasn't scared of the venue nor was i scared to approach the kids. i was excited to see how God's going to blow these kids away. i was excited to see how God's going to blow Eliot away. i was excited to see how God's going to blow 14:21 away. i was excited to see how God's going to blow ALL OF YOU THAT ARE READING THIS AWAY!

there's peace in my heart. there's courage that allowed me to approach the kids. there's wisdom when i talked to the kids. there's God. there's God watching every move i make. there's God working in and through me.

we played. we shared. we acted. we gave them all that we had. we managed to get them clapping. we were all having so much fun that we had to change our set so we can have MORE upbeat songs. we managed to get them STANDING and GROOVING and CLAPPING. there was joy. there was celebration. perhaps a slight glimpse of... heaven... for the first time (or for the first time in awhile).

i had a strange urge to approach a young man that was sitting there at the end of the concert. i had a strange urge to start talking to him and ask him how he felt towards our performance. here we go. let the floodgates open. he basically poured out his heart to me. he asked me incredibly hard questions. but it don't matter. God spoke through me. i've never felt so wise before. that's probably because it wasn't me talking. here he is, a teenager who's gone through a lot of trouble in life, physically, mentally and even spiritually. he wanted something. he wants something more. in Erwin McManus' book "Soul Cravings", he essentially mention that we're created and made to long for more. we always want more. God created us to be with him. he IS more. we want more, that's because we subconsciously want to be with God. again, he IS more. that's one of the things that i told this young man. or should i say that's one of the thing that God told this young man during our "three way conference call" last night.

"how do you know that God exists?"

"how do YOU know that gravity exists?"

"well, you can see it, it's all around you isn't it?"

"so why wouldn't you believe that God exists?"

"i think i see what you're trying to get at"

"how do you know that someone didn't just make up the concept of gravity? just like what you said about God)

"you don't see gravity, but you believe it. i don't see God, but i see him working miracles day in and day out. that's why i believe he exists"

"the fact that our paths crossed, that to me, is a miracle already."

"i was legally dead for 2 minutes and was in a coma for 4 days..."

i think you get the idea. i wasn't the only person that had an incredible God story like this to tell. i wasn't the only on last night. we all had an incredible experience.

this is the war we're fighting. it's a spiritual war that requires spiritual strength and spiritual weapons. it reminded me to go back to the throne of Grace everyday. it reminded me that i can't "do ministry" on my own. "Salvation belongs to the Lord". we prayed. he answered. we humbled ourselves. he showed himself.

this is how the story continues...

i requested that we give him one of our CDs. he'd mention to me that music was a big part of his life. he almost couldn't come back out from the "cell" to ask me that incredibly hard question at the end. but i knew it wasn't over. i knew God wasn't going to let him go. i knew that God wanted to use me to encourage him one last time...

i didn't pray "the prayer" with him. i'm not saying that it's wrong to ask people to accept Christ on the spot with you. i think he was "ready". but i didn't want it to be an Eliot type of thing. i didn't want to know that i "converted" somebody. it really isn't about me. i told him to pray last night before he went to bed. i challenged him to challenge God to show up before him...

this is the war we fight...

i said we...

i invite you to fight this war with us...

pray for these three young adults that we came into contact with...

pray for those that we've inspired and challenged and we don't even know about...

pray for those we haven't even met yet...

this is the war i fight. this is the war we fight as a team...

will you fight with us?

"There are tears from the Saints for the lost and unsaved. We're crying for them... come back home!" - Tears of the Saints, Leeland