Chapter Twenty One

Twenty One

Paine Harbor Community Church

The Sunday After Christmas

Something powerful was happening amongst the now-increasing number of people who gathered at Paine Harbor Community Church. While they didn't have the vocabulary to describe what they were experiencing, they all knew it was most certainly a work of God and they were enjoying themselves. Without exception, the people were being transformed, hope was renewed, joy had been sparked, and clarity of purpose was crystal clear. 

It wasn't 'church-as-usual' anymore. A dynamic Presence had been discovered, and nothing could be the same again. Previously, the congregational singing was listless and without much participation. Now true worship was being experienced, new songs of praise and adoration were being discovered and the people cried out for more and deeper times of worship. Frequently, members of the little church would shout for joy and celebration during the midst of the songs, laughter was a constant in the gathering, as wave after wave of revelation would overcome the people. Prayer was no longer a religious ritual but had become a passionate expression of love, faith and confidence before the Lord.

Reverend Sharp had dropped the ‘Reverend’ and now insisted the people call him ‘Axel’ or if they really felt the need for a title, ‘Pastor’.  Previously known as being aloof and angry, he was the first person to reach out and give genuine hugs of love and affection, and his laughter was heard throughout the chapel when the people were gathered. Perhaps the largest change was seen in the faces of Greta and Sarah. They were aglow with joy, peace and love. Where before they cowered in front of him, they now were extremely affectionate and warm towards Axel.

The congregation was singing a new song lifting up the greatness of God, when Achilles quietly stole into the back row, hoping to remain anonymous. “I'm not sure why I'm here,” he thought to himself. “But it was like something was drawing me here, like a powerful magnet.” Achilles watched as the people worshipped with great zest, intensity and passion. This confused him. 

“Isn't church supposed to suck? To be boring? But these people look like they are having a great time! I don't get it,” he thought as he continued to watch. He was stunned when longtime Paine Harbor troublemaker Ricky Böndunum stepped out of the aisle, walked to the front of the little chapel and stepped up to the microphone. “Seriously? He's here? Unbelievable.”

“Friends,” Ricky began to speak as the song came to a conclusion. “Most of you know me. I'm Ricky. And, well... this church thing is new to me.” The people chuckled good-naturedly as he paused. “I've lead a pretty screwed up life. Made some really bad choices. Some of you know about that.” They laughed again, but it was with kindness not mockery. “I never knew what to think about God, in fact, I wasn't sure if there really was a God. So, I did a lot of stuff, drank too much, partying too much, fighting too much. Generally causing a lot of trouble. And I've come to see why.” Pausing, he looked around the room, surprised to see every eye was on him, but there wasn't an angry or hostile face in the room. In fact, he'd say later, he could only see love. “Anyway, I didn't know how alone I was. But I was. And being alone, I was afraid. Afraid of everything. So, to protect myself I'd be the tough guy, I'd pick the fights. I'd cause the trouble. That way, people would be afraid of me. But really, I was afraid of them.” 

It was then the tears began to slide down Ricky's deeply tanned face. Looking around desperately for a tissue, he was relieved when young Sarah Sharp handed him an entire box. Continuing he said, “And then I had an experience which took away all of my fears. It made me feel safe. In fact, it made me feel genuinely loved, maybe for the first time in my life, I don't know. Suddenly, and it really was suddenly, I lost the need to fight or drink or cause trouble. I found peace.”

The people began to applaud their support. In fact, most of the people stood to their feet in celebration. After a bit, Ricky said to them, “Thanks so much, you don't know what means to me. But just in case there is anyone here who doesn't know exactly what I'm talking about, I need to say this: God reached down and met me right where I was. He didn't wait for me to get it together; He simply reached down and gave me exactly what I needed. God told me I could be free of all of my anger, all of my addictions and all of my sorrows, if I'd just open my heart up to Jesus, and I figured, 'what the heck, what do I have to lose?' I'll never be the same again. Thank you God! Well, look, I've already talked too long, but I've just one more thing I really need to say,” he paused looking at Pastor Axel for approval. When Axel nodded, he continued. “No matter how messed up you think you are, you aren't too messed up for God. Open your heart. Let Him in. Even if you aren't sure, do it anyway. You won't be disappointed!”

Pastor Axel stood up and moved forward embracing Ricky in his long arms. Both men were overcome with joy in this moment and stood together while the people shouted and clapped their support and joy! 

“Ricky,” Axel said with great emotion. “That was beautiful. Awesome. I believe Holy Spirit has just used you to help someone – or maybe several someone’s - come to faith in Jesus.” Ricky was shaking in the glory of God as Axel said these words. “In fact, that was such a powerful message, I do not need to preach today! Because I'm hearing from Holy Spirit that there are a number of people in this room right now who were touched by your message and are about to come into faith and relationship with Jesus because of it.”

Looking around the room, Axel began to quietly pray in tongues. Others joined him as they interceded for those who were about to come to faith. After a few moments, he spoke prophetically to the crowd, “You need Jesus. Even if you don't fully understand or even fully believe yet, I believe this is your divine moment of transformation. I'm going to ask you to open your heart to Him and receive what He has for you. You cannot earn it, you do not deserve it, it is a gift... it is a gift from Someone who loves you without exception, without fail, and without fault or blame. You are loved, simply open your heart and receive His love. Right here, right now. Step into the beauty of love – just like our friend Ricky did! If I'm describing you, I'm going to ask you to step up here right now. Come.” With those words, Pastor Axel sat down, and waited upon Holy Spirit to touch hearts. 

Achilles, seated in the rear, felt a gargantuan struggle within his spirit. He had talked with Demetrius for hours and then went home and prayed God would reveal Himself.  When he awoke he felt the unusual compulsion to go to church. 

“God, if this is for real, I'll do it. But I need a sign, I need to know for sure,” he prayed silently. A woman quietly stepped up to his side and spoke softly into his ears. To his overwhelming surprise, when she was done talking, she gave him a gentle kiss on his cheek and looked up at him with the warmest smile he'd ever seen. Suddenly, he found himself stepping out of the pew, into the aisle and nearly running towards the front of the chapel. It was in that moment the love of God overcame his feeble objections and filled him with a joy, peace and love he had never known before.

Achilles wasn't the only person touched by Ricky's testimony and Pastor's words. There were nearly a dozen people who'd made the same decision he was making. To his complete shock he saw his father and mother, making their way to the front of the little church. Upon seeing Achilles, his father ran towards him, tears streaming down his face and reaching out to embrace him. 

“Son, son!” he proclaimed. “I didn't know. I am so sorry for rejecting you. I was wrong to do so, can you ever forgive me?”

“Dad! Mom!” Achilles said through the tears, “I'm the one who needs your forgiveness! I was such a jerk, so selfish and unaware. Imagine God loves us all enough to bring us together like this – on such as day as this! I believe! I really believe! Thank you God for showing yourself to me!”

Others who witnessed this family healing would later describe it as one of the most poignant moments of their lives. To witness a broken family being healed by God's power was a holy and wonderful privilege, one to be honored and cherished. And it wasn't just the Brudte family which was finding healing in the power of Holy Spirit, numerous Paine Harbor families were being reconciled, marriages set on the right path and futures being reestablished on the truth and power of God's way.

Pastor Axel asked each person if they’d like to tell their story. When it was Achilles turn, he simply said, “I didn't know what this kind of love would feel like or if it even existed. I didn't know how satisfying it would be, how His love fills the voids in my soul with warmth and peace. I didn't know. Like Ricky, I tried to fill my emptiness in self-destructive ways, but I can already tell, I'll never be the same again. I feel, for the first time ever, whole. Complete. I cannot wait to see what He has next for me, I don't know what it is, but He has proven Himself to be trustworthy and good.”

Oliver, Sandy and Demetrius had decided earlier this morning to attend Paine Harbor Community Church. They were seated together several rows from the front and had remained quiet while interceding for the people and suddenly Sandy felt a burning sensation in her stomach. Initially she though it might be a little acid from the morning decaf coffee, but soon realized it was actually the leading of the Holy Spirit. She leaned over and nudged Oliver, “Honey, I think I'm supposed to go up front and prophesy over the people.” 

He looked at her, considering what she said for a moment and then replied, “I agree! That's exactly the right thing to do. Would you like me to walk up there with you?” Meeting his kind eyes with hers, she said, “No. I'm supposed to do it alone.” 

She got up and went to the front. After she explained to Pastor Sharp what she wanted to do, he grabbed a handheld microphone and gave it to her. Taking the mic in hand, she stepped up to the first person, listened to Holy Spirit for a moment and began to declare a prophetic blessing upon them. She gave specific words to one person after another which apparently were accurate based upon the responsiveness from the people. When at last she came to the Brudte family, she stopped. Taking a deep breath she spoke unexpected and remarkable prophesies which would change the destiny of generations of the Brudte family. 

“Your family has carried a curse for generations. Today changes everything. Even when you speak your name, you are cursing with your mouth your very life and the lives of those who will come after you. The name 'Brulte' carries with it sorrow, grief and loss, but the Lord says to you that from this day forward your family will be known for joy, freedom and abundance! You are to carry a new name – and your name shall describe your life! You are the Blessed family!” Sandy paused making sure they were taking everything in,  “Everything you put your hand to will be blessed! Your relationships will be blessed! Your businesses will be blessed! Your children and grandchildren will be blessed! This is the will of the Lord! Be blessed! He has taken your brokenness and healed it with his blood! You are no longer under a curse, but you are living a life of blessing!”

As Sandy concluded, the Brudte family stood speechless in awe and wonder. No one had ever spoken to them with words so powerful and filled with such promise before. Ben would later say 'it was like a shift in our DNA was occurring as the words came out of Sandy's mouth.'

Pastor Sharp took the microphone out of Sandy's hands, turning to the congregation, he asked for everyone to sit down. “I want to explain to you what you just witnessed. It is important as your shepherd I make sure you understand the biblical teachings concerning this, and next Sunday, I'm going to share a message with you breaking all of this down in detail, but for today, I want to give you a brief understanding. Sandy was giving a prophetic word to the Brudte, uh... excuse me, Blessed family. A prophetic word is simply that, a message of encouragement from Holy Spirit to His people. Prophetic words, I'm discovering, are as real today as they were 2000 years ago. Andi was explaining to me a couple of days ago that one must always test the prophetic to make sure it is genuine and authoritative. The first test is simple: Is what is being spoken in agreement with Scripture? If not, reject it immediately. Secondly, does the message encourage you to be more like Jesus? Thirdly, does it come from a credible source? And lastly, does your spirit agree with what has been spoken?” He paused, looking around the room checking to see if the people understood. “Agrees with scripture. Encourages you to be like Jesus. Comes from a credible source. And does your inner spirit agree. These are important tests because the Bible tells us there will always be false prophets and it is our job, actually it is our responsibility to 'test' the spirits to see if they are from God.” 

The people were nodding in agreement with their pastor. He went on for several more minutes guiding his rapidly changing congregation into a new understanding and vocabulary of the word of the Spirit in their midst.

While walking back to Grace Cottage, Oliver and Sandy were enthusiastically discussing what had just occurred. Both were thrilled with the way God was changing the people of Paine Harbor, but more importantly to them, how He was transforming their lives. “San, did you ever imagine,” he paused. “Did you ever imagine us being like this? Did you imagine simply by packing our bags and moving across country to this crazy little fishing village we'd see such a dramatic move of God?”

“Honey, I'm not sure I've told you this,” she responded. “But I am so thankful God moved us here. I cannot believe I just said that out loud.” They both laughed with joy at that statement of fact. “When you told me we had to leave Pasadena I was really torn. Of course I wanted to support you and your career... ...but you know I'm a SoCal girl. Deep inside, though, I knew it was the right thing to do, but I never thought we'd be changed so fundamentally and so quickly. We've only been here a couple months! Looking around, I've realized something.”

“What's that?” he inquired.

“I've realized we are at home,” she said as she wrapped her arms around her husband. “This is where I want to raise our babies.”