TOTALLY OVERWHELMED

Rev.1:17 – And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead…

Have you ever seen something so unbelievable that it took your breath away? I have seen stunning mountain views, African wild animals in their habitat, whales in the ocean, and beautiful rain forests in Central America. There are many shocking things in our world but nothing comes close to a glimpse of the glory of God seen in our Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s verse shows the effect seeing Christ in His glory had on the Apostle John, his strength was taken away as he found himself overcome by the glory in His presence. Jonathan Edwards tells of numerous accounts of people losing bodily strength and falling to the ground in the visitations of the Spirit in his church. Look at these comments from Edwards’ description of people having an encounter with God.

“Many have spoken much of their hearts being drawn out in love to God and Christ; and their minds being wrapped up in delightful contemplation of the glory and wonderful grace of God, and the excellency and dying love of Jesus Christ; and of their souls going forth in longing desires after God and Christ. Several of our young children have expressed much of this; and have manifested a willingness to leave father and mother and all things in the world, to go to be with Christ. Some persons have had longing desires after Christ, which have risen to that degree as to take away their natural strength. Some have been so overcome with a sense of the dying love of Christ to such poor, wretched, and unworthy creatures, as to weaken the body. Several persons have had so great a sense of the glory of God, and excellency of Christ, that nature and life has seemed almost to sink under it; and in all probability, if God had shewed them a little more of himself, it would have dissolved their frame.”

To those who have never been overwhelmed by a God encounter these kind of stories seem to be just that, just a story. That’s how it was for me until I was touched by God and filled with unspeakable joy. For me it was a prayer line, a touch on my forehead with an index finger, and finding myself on the floor overcome by unspeakable joy. The ramifications of that moment are still reverberating in my life almost thirty years later. His presence is incomparable, the effect for me was life changing and permanent. It’s time for a fresh move of the Spirit of God.