THE 1988 ARGENTINE REVIVAL
MOVE IN TUCUMAN
TUCUMAN
From the northern province of Tucuman, the stories are endless
of the many people
who have met with God and whose lives have been transformed
during this move of God
that continues with ever-increasing impetus. In a recent
conference in the city of
San Miguel de Tucuman, God moved each night with wave after wave
of His presence and
power. In one service, after a message on blind Bartimaeus, when
the invitation was
given to come forward to meet with Jesus, over 500 people arose
from their seats and
rushed forward, literally running to the altar. Some with arms
uplifted screamed
out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me!" Others
cried, "I'm the one who is
blind. I want to see!" When they reached a certain place in
the front that our son
John had pointed to as the place where Jesus was standing and
waiting, it was as if
an invisible wall was there. They reached that point and then
began to fall
backwards under the power as if they had crashed against that
wall. In a very few
moments, there was a wall-to-wall carpet of people stretched out
on the hard, cement
floor. The ministers who were there could only look on with
wonder and amazement at
how God was working so sovereignly in this people. It seemed
almost irreverent to
try to say or do anything, for God's Holy Spirit was doing the
work all by Himself.
What great and beautiful deliverances our eyes were allowed to
see! Oh, the
numbers of hearts that were born again and brought into light and
life from the
bondage of death and darkness.
NOTES ON TUCUMAN MEETINGS:
In Tucuman, we had six nights of meetings in a large warehouse
which held
from 500 to 650 people. There were benches placed all around the
edges and
many children and young people sat on the dusty rustic cement
floor.
It was hard going at first. People fell under the power, but the
breakthrough didn't come until the 5th night with the story of
Timmy. There
was much resistance to the work of the Holy Spirit at first. The
fifth night
the resistant walls shattered. Hearts opened wide. Ministry not
needed. The
cries and prayers of the people were music to the Lord's ears.
RESULT OF THE MOVE OF POWER: On an individual - very personal.
Realizes that
God cares for him personally. Brings a change in attitude. Brings
a fear and
true reverence for God. Opens understanding. Move is preparing
God's people
for the night. "Watchman, what of the night? The morning
cometh, but also
the night."
THE SERMON THAT BROUGHT REVIVAL TO TUCUMAN
The Story of Timmy
In one of those services, the Holy Spirit moved in a very
unusual and
spectacular way. I don't think that anyone who was present that
night will
ever forget the scene that was unfolded before us. I would like
to share a
few details of what happened there:
I was sharing a simple story of a little boy named Timmy who
was born
blind. As little Timmy grew up, he couldn't really understand
what it meant
to be able to see. How can you explain to a blind person that he
is blind?
Timmy couldn't understand, nor could his parents clearly explain
it to him.
As he grew up and started walking, he kept bumping into and
stumbling over
things, by which he accumulated many painful bumps, cuts and
bruises.
One day, little Timmy asked his father, "Daddy, why is it
so painful to
walk?" His father answered, "Son, it really isn't
painful to walk; it's only
that way to you, because you are blind." With much patience
and dedication,
his father taught little Timmy to get around the house without
bumping himself
or stumbling. The distance between everything - doors, furniture,
etc. - was
carefully measured in footsteps and the whole family was taught
to keep
everything in the same place. How tremendous was the day Timmy
learned to
walk in his house without tripping or bumping into anything. He
shouted, "I
can see, Daddy. I can see!" His father answered him
tenderly, "No, son, you
are still blind."
As time went on, Timmy's world enlarged when he learned to go
outside and
find his way around by feeling his way with a long stick. When he
had become
quite proficient at this and could find his way around the
neighborhood, he
was overjoyed and again exclaimed, "Daddy, Daddy, I can
see!" Again the sad
answer came, "Being able to see isn't what you think it
is."
When Timmy grew to manhood, he had to accept the fact that he
was really
blind and couldn't see as others could. His despair was great,
but there was
a faint glimmer of hope, because he had heard that Jesus, the Son
of God, was
passing through surrounding cities, doing all kinds of miracles.
Could this
be the opportunity he had awaited all his life? Yet the
possibility seemed
remote that He would come to Timmy's city and to the very place
where he sat
each day to beg for alms from those who passed by. Even if He did
come, with
so many others needing healing and deliverance, would he be one
of those whom
Jesus would touch?
This blind man, Timmy, was known as Bartimaeus. One joyous
day, he heard
that this Jesus was coming to his city. In no way was he going to
let this
opportunity slip away - perhaps his only hope of ever seeing. So
when he
heard the noisy multitude passing by and found out that Jesus was
there among
them, he cried out with all his strength, "Jesus, thou Son
of David, have
mercy on me! When others told him to be quiet, his desperate cry
grew yet
more intense, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy!"
And Jesus heard his
cry, called him to Himself and opened his blind eyes that day.
Light reached
into his world of darkness at last!
God's Mighty Power at Work in Lives
I noticed that as I spoke, the people were intently listening
and great
conviction of the Holy Spirit was beginning to grip their hearts.
As the
story unfolded, so many began to realize that they were just as
spiritually
blind as Timmy was physically blind. Many who for years THOUGHT
they could
see, had no true understanding as to what it really meant to have
spiritual
light and sight. God began to reveal to them what terrible
darkness yet
filled their lives. Yet His Holy Spirit made it very clear to
them that He
was offering light and life, and deliverance from all their
darkness and death
that had reigned for so long.
As I concluded this very wonderful story of God's grace upon
Timmy, God
led me to point to a specific area in the room in front of the
pulpit and to
say to the congregation, "Jesus is HERE this very night! He
is passing by
this city of Tucuman!" Before I could finish speaking,
suddenly over 500
people arose from their seats and rushed forward, literally
running towards
the altar. Some with arms uplifted desperately cried out,
"Jesus, Son of
David, have mercy upon me!" Others cried, "I'm the one
who is blind. I want
to see!" When they reached that certain place in the front
which was the
place where Jesus was standing and waiting, it was as if an
invisible wall was
lifted up and they began to violently fall backwards under the
power of God as
if they had crashed against that "wall". Bang! Bang!
Bang! We could hear all
over that huge auditorium as bodies hit the hard cement floor
(Amazingly, no
one is hurt when they fall under the power).
The ministers who were there could only look on with wonder
and amazement
at how God was working so sovereignly among the people. It seemed
almost ir-
reverent to try to say or do anything, for God's Holy Spirit was
doing the
work all by Himself. Not until that electrifying moment of God's
direct
intervention had subsided did we go out among the people to
minister to them.
As people continued to fall under the power of God, in a very
short time there
was a wall-to-wall carpet of people stretched out before us all
over the
auditorium. God was dealing with sin and bondages. His fire was
again
present to consume all of the uncleanness and sin that separated
His people
from Himself. What light! What power and conviction of the Holy
Spirit!
What great and beautiful deliverances our eyes were allowed to
see! Oh, the
numbers of hearts that were brought out of the bondage of death
and darkness
and born again into life and light. The stories are endless of
those who met
with God and whose lives have been transformed during this move
of God that
continues with ever-increasing impetus since God began to move in
that city.
THE MAN WHO TRIED TO FLEE: One man was terrified, seeing and
hearing the
cries and sensing the work of the Holy Spirit in almost all the
congregation.
Impelled by something within, he started towards the door.
Benches and chairs
hindered his flight. He jumped and banged over them knocking down
one after
another. Reaching the hall at the back, he fell and was unable to
go any
further. He was crumpled on the floor, terribly sick and
vomiting. Who can
escape or run away from God? Next day, he couldn't remember what
had happened
to him. Seeing this "wild man", people in the hall
slammed the doors to keep
him from running outside.
"This same night that John spoke about Timmy, later there
was a second
wave. About 90 to 100 people were still on the floor under the
power, so John
dismissed the service. Well, after the last "spectator"
had left, God again
began to move upon these who were still under the power in a
unique way in
each one. Some were being delivered, others were being filled
with the Holy
Spirit, others were rolling around on the floor laughing. The
atmosphere of
the place was so electrifying that most of us were just walking
from one
extreme of the hall to the other, waving our arms as an
expression of this
mantle of anointing which was extended all over the hall.
"Then suddenly a young man who seemed possessed, got on
his hands and
knees and tried to jump over all the bodies that were laid out on
the floor.
With his eyes bulging he managed to reach the place where the
benches were
piled up in the rear of the auditorium. With strength and speed
which we had
no strength to counter, he climbed all over them and wanted to
escape from the
hall. When he finally reached the door he crashed down to the
floor, sliding
down the edge of the door. We ministered to him and later there
was a
beautiful deliverance. We could see the life enter into him.
"While we were praying for him, we did it while rebuking
in English. It
was interesting to see how he reacted at the mere mention of the
blood of
Jesus. When it was all over, I said to him, "Let the name of
your Saviour
fill your heart and soul. Mention His Name!" And this young
man began to say
"Jesus" in English, repeating it over and over
again."
MORE ABOUT TUCUMAN:
Neighbors watched as people left the church at 1 to 2 AM
with two people holding up an evidently quite drunk one between
them who was
having trouble walking and who was laughing and laughing.
Rocks thrown against the building during the service (very
common in
Tucuman) didn't disturb at all the praying people stretched out
on the floor.
Such a need, needy people. A very poor province. Wages very low.
Printed
paper money (bonos). Didn't hardly use Argentine money (Australes
or pesos).
Much darkness, disease, misery, poverty, filth, broken homes,
drunken fathers,
orphans (uncared for). Much promiscuity. Parentless children.
Spiritual
blindness and ignorance. In this past year God has brought over a
hundred to
birth. All have fallen under the power. Process continues working
until it
brings its fruit.
SERVICE FOLLOWING THE "TIMMY" SERVICE:
The following night no need for a
preparatory message or direction. "God is here,
folks..." Faith was high.
The people responded immediately and urgently pressed forward.
The prayer
service started on its own.