Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21-22 ESV
Last week in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, I was preparing to teach a class on prayer. Before we started, the room was filled with people from several churches. It was Friday evening, and they were glad to be there and see friends they’d not seen for a while. The atmosphere was one of excitement and fellowship. It was quite noisy. As I walked to the front of the sanctuary, I noticed a figure kneeling in front of the platform. It was my friend, Pastor Jose Santos Ramos. He was quietly but earnestly praying for our service.
At the end of the first hour, I asked the class to stand and worship in the Spirit before we took our coffee break. Instantly, the heavens seemed to open. The Presence of God was in the room. No music, no exhortation, just hungry hearts. Healing flowed and people were filled with the Spirit. It was a challenge to get them to stop praying and singing – they chose to worship and pray rather than eat pastries and drink coffee. And they say miracles have ceased! I don’t know this, but I strongly suspect that some of that power was the result of prayer.
Notice what happened at Jesus’ baptism. He and John obeyed God, He prayed, and the heavens opened. There was a tangible manifestation of the Spirit, and God spoke from Heaven concerning what had happened there. This same pattern was repeated on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-32).
I know, He’s Jesus, and we’re not. But He did say, “In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (John 16:26-27 ESV)”
Let’s try it out today: Get serious about praying for the service where you worship. The Spirit still moves. God still speaks.
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