I am awestruck. Awestruck is the perfect word. It means that the news is so good that it leaves you weakened and takes your breath away.
We see it when the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon. The Bible says, “And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her” (1 Kings 10:4,5).
We see “awestruck” again when David considered the promises that God made to him:
“And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. Then King David went in and sat before the Lord…” (2 Sam. 7:16-18a).
When David realized that his throne would last forever, all he could do was sit before God dumbfounded.
Now I also am awestruck by good news. Isaiah 54:2 says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.”
The harvest has been so great that every year, for the last three years, our tents have doubled in size. Think of it!
Our first tent was 8,000 square feet and seated 1,000 people. A year later, we got our current tent which is 18,000 square feet and can seat 2,500 people. I thought, “Surely that will be big enough for years to come.”
We overflowed it the first time we used it! In fact, there was only one time in the entire year when everyone was able to get inside. Then God said to do it again. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.”
When I heard how big God wanted it to be, I was terrified. It had to be 38,000 square feet. Enough to seat 5,100 people. It can easily cover an entire football field.
When we ordered it, we instantly found ourselves entering into spiritual warfare just to obtain it. In fact, we faced warfare on several fronts.
The devil told us that our outreach would be permanently stopped. You have no idea how excited I got when he said that, because I know he is a liar.
But something astounding happened the moment we hit Bakersfield. Blessings broke loose in all directions.
To begin with, a critical shortage of vinyl delayed our new tent. But when the delay ended, it coincided exactly with our arrival in Bakersfield. Obedience unlocks blessings! We will have our new tent by May—in plenty of time for the next crusade!
What I am going to tell you now will test my credibility with you. We were so enthralled with the idea of a new tent that we failed to consider something: How will we move it, once it is finished?
Unless you see the tent, you cannot appreciate what it will take to move it. Just the size of the poles is enough to amaze you. It felt like we had to move a city. And not just once, but every time we used it.
I fell before God in prayer and cried out in prayer for a trucking company to help us. A few days later—astonishingly—a Christian trucking company called. They felt strongly that they were to help move anything we needed, to wherever we needed it.
Please get this part: they knew nothing about our tent crusades. They had no idea what we needed. Then came the most shocking part: they are located 45 minutes from the location where our tent is being made! Are you still there?
Then came one of the most strategic victories. Ever since we began tent crusades, there is one city that has loomed in my spirit in the same way that Rome loomed in the spirit of Paul the apostle: Los Angeles.
I have never seen such fierce resistance as when we tried to hold meetings in L.A.!
I will never forget the thrill when Jim Willoughby our executive director called me from Southern California and said, “Mario, we got it!” What we got is the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds for September 10-13.
As if this were not enough this week we go into our own new studios to start production of our new show that will air on Sunday nights. Todd Coconato is my cohost for a powerful new weekly show called Firepower.
If that were not enough, I am teaming up with Lance Wallnau for the Fire and Glory Tour at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida March 19-21. Already over 4,000 people have registered.
But Bakersfield itself is the biggest news in my opinion. The tent is going up right now. Frank Saldana called me from the tent site. I could hear the jackhammers putting in the stakes.
The people of Bakersfield will admit to you how badly they need a miracle. Fentanyl is killing their young people in record numbers. Gang violence is at an all-time high.
But we have invaded this city, boldly. Sixty thousand invitations have been given away in the neighborhoods. We have reached over 10,000 youth in school assemblies, because of the authority of Manual Carrizales and Stay Focused Ministries. Semi-trucks full of food, clothing, school supplies, and other necessities have gone out to thousands of families.
We were able to do all of this because we have the best partners in the world.
But we do not leave it there. We pray for them. We lead them to Jesus. But the best is yet to come.
A city is about to get a tent crusade for the ages. The presence of God will be so thick that you will hear testimonies of healings and dramatic conversions, even before there is any preaching. A spiritual earthquake is about to hit Bakersfield!
Our 500 volunteers are never going to be the same! I am never going to be the same.
Now you know why this good news has taken my breath away. {eoa}
For the original article, visit our content partner at mariomurillo.org.
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Mario Murillo rose from poverty in the Mission District of San Francisco. After being revolutionized by Christ, he felt a call to the University of California at Berkeley. His international ministry was launched after a four-day conference in San Jose, California, extended for six months with a total attendance of nearly 250,000 people. Since then, Mario’s voice has been heard by millions around the world, bringing a message that zeroes in on the hurts of society. He presents Christ clearly and intelligently, and openly declares the power of Jesus to totally transform a life. His simple declaration: Come and see. Christ has the power to end addiction, racism, violence and disease.
