Finally
Finally...
The first service opened with a strong call to worship and time of passionate intercession asking the Holy Spirit to meet attendees as they PURSUE Jesus this weekend. Women of all ages and from all backgrounds poured their hearts out to the Lord in prayer and worship. The air was electric with anticipation and expectation as they cried out in unison for 10-15 minutes.
Shortly after the first chorus, “I really believe there is breakthrough in the room” was declared after singing the chorus of “Praise will break the chains.” Kaylee Tuttle expressed that she felt led to change the song selection for this evening as an encouragement to those who are here, who like Paul and Silas, need to break chains of bondage with praise and worship. After a mini-sermon from the book of Acts, the room erupted in victorious praise!
Worship transitioned into a sweet time of worship where the presence of the Holy Spirit soaked the room as everyone cried in unison, Holy, Holy, Holy. As the music died down, the murmur of hundreds of voices individually praising in their own prayer languages filled the room. The stillness of the moment was broken with the song, He is Here. A song I hadn’t heard before, the lyrics invited worshipers to lay down their burdens…”He is here to break the yoke and lift the heavy burden. To heal the hopeless heart and bless the broken. Come and lay down the burdens you have carried, for in this sanctuary, God is here.” What a beautiful tie back to the admonition Kaylee started with…Praise will break the chains.
As Pastor Judy Jacobs-Tuttle took the stage, she declared, “There is JOY in the room!!” The musicians continued to play and waves of worship continued to move across the crowd. As she started in on the familiar strains of “The Presence of the Lord is Here” the room erupted in jubilant praise as she led everyone in the repeated phrases, “Here comes Freedom” and “Here comes Joy.”
Pastor Judy said “This may be the greatest opening of Pursuit, ever! This will be a Momentous event. We have prayed for this all year long. There is just something about it when women get together.”
After the offertory, she launched into a song with her daughters and the crowd was on their feet again as she proclaimed the scripture, MY GLORY WILL COVER THE EARTH. And then she broke into her signature song, The Days of Elijah. There is NO GOD LIKE JEHOVAH!
Pastor Judy recounted that she was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was 12 and has been running ever since. She went on to state, “This is not the time to quit! Quitting is not an option. So much is happening in the world right now, but Jesus said when you see all these things, Look UP. You are getting ready to leave this place!!”
She reminded everyone “This is your temporary home, you are only passing through. Pray that you will be counted worthy.”
She summed up the current culture with 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
Then she moved on to read Ephesians 6:10-16
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
She started her message calling every listener to “Lean in. This is important. This is imperative. Urgent. This is not a suggestion. God is calling his people to strength. Be strong in the LORD. Location Matters. Your strength is in the Lord. This is a rally cry. To be strong is our duty. Because the world is watching. To be weak is our sin. Jesus said, I would rather you be hot or cold.”
She went on to describe Ephesians as one of the strongest letters of Paul's writing. Paul talks about the mystery of the Church in this letter. God’s secret weapon in warfare. However, before the church is called to war, she must be taught how to walk. And before she can walk, she needs to learn to stand. “Some of you haven’t learned how to stand,” She told the crowd. “When you can’t stand, find someone to stand with you and stand strong.”
Pastor Judy continued recounting the content of Ephesians--”Because of the majesty of this book, it has been called the Grand Canyon of Scripture. The Royal Capstone of the Epistles. In it, Paul covers the believers position in Christ, the believers call to responsibility, spirit filled living, spiritual warfare. Grace through faith is covered in this letter. Christ as our Peace, the peace that passes all understanding…Unity in the Church is covered here. How beautiful it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity.”
Paul then outlines the Gifts of the Spirit and the five fold ministry--Apostles, Prophet, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelist.
After all of that, ”AND FINALLY, Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Put on the WHOLE armor of God.” It’s as if he saved the best and most important message for last.
Pastor Judy declared, “Sometimes, you’ve got to go to hell and take something back! You’ve got to say that child is not yours, devil. Get your hands off them!..When you're desperate, you will get ugly..ugly cry, ugly prayers, ugly! You will storm the gates of hell to get back what belongs to you!!”
As she was describing the journey of the believer, she said “I’ve come too far to go back, or give in. I’m still here!!”
Pastor Judy quickly donned a sweatshirt that said “I’m still here” and left the stage to walk the aisles. “Some of you need to run to your breakthrough! Your breakthrough is in the run. It is in the shout. It is in your praise!!”
The air was absolutely electric and the crowd was on their feet. Dozens broke out in laps around the auditorium praising God for their breakthrough.
Pastor Jamie Tuttle called the crowd to the front declaring, "Finally, your breakthrough is here! Finally, your miracle is here. Finally!”
Pastor Judy continued--“If any of these remind you of what you are believing for…Victory is in your shout. But, If you are to get victory, you will first be broken. But God says in the season of brokenness, I am about to pour in the wine. …Some of you have been crushed. You have to be crushed in order to become wine. This weekend is a place where you will be shaped.
Your prodigal is coming home. Your body will be healed. Your mind is becoming fortified. Your prayers are going to be answered. Healing is here.”
The altars were flooded with passionate prayers. The Holy Spirit moved mightily as mothers travailed in prayer for lost prodigals and others believed for other breakthroughs in their lives.
We have no option but not to stand. Location Matters. The only thing that will last is the truth of God’s word. God has made promises in His Word, He is your Heavenly Father and he will certainly keep his promises to you.
What a service. This night set an expectant tone for the rest of the conference.
