The
Testimony of Carolyn Lee, Greensboro, North
Carolina
In
February, 1987, the Spirit of God brought
revelation to me about how He desired His Body to
enter into worship of Him. He indicated that the
Church had only learned how to praise Him. His
desire was for us to learn by the Holy Spirit how
to enter into the depth of intimacy in worship
with Him.
He began
to teach me personally how to move from the place
of praise into worship. Over the next five years,
He lifted me higher and higher by experience. I
observed that the same teaching was moving across
the Body of Christ. He was calling His whole
Church to a higher place.
When
revival broke out at my local church in the fall
of 1993, I realized that the Spirit of God was
breaking up fallow ground in my life. He taught
me that this ground was that which had become
hardened and dry. Other parts of the ground was
that which had never before been tilled. He was
planting new seed as well as stimulating growth
from previously planted seed.
In
January, 1994, Gil Howard-Browne began
ministering in Greensboro. I was drawn to these
meetings by insatiable hunger because of his
emphasis on worship.
Deeper
revelation of worship developed within my spirit.
Laughter erupted hour after hour. There were
times I felt that I was being turned inside out.
Yet, I welcomed the work that was being done. I
knew I was moving closer and closer to the Lord.
The
closer I moved to the Lord, the hungrier I
became. This experience seemed compared to a
"deep-sea diving" excursion of the
Spirit realm.
Hunger
and thirst became desperation. This desperation
was not based on fear but a hunger that I had
never before experienced. I knew that this
"journey" would leave me forever
changed. And it has.
As the
evangelist laid his hands upon my head, I would
drift off into the Spirit. One time I saw the
glory of the Lord as He approached me. Beams of
light rays wafted from His face. Though his
facial features were indistinguishable, I knew
upon whom I was looking. At the same moment, a
billowing waterfall rushed through my spirit. The
waters were immense. The billowing lasted for
some time and washed over me in a cleansing
anointing.
I
realized that desperation had led me to this
place. I was grateful for that emotion of hunger
that caused me to press in deeper. I realized
there are avenues of the Spirit yet uncharted
that I wished to venture.
When the
fire of God visited me, I felt as if I was being
completely consumed, yet not. I could only
compare it to what I would imagine the burning
bush on Mt. Sinai was like. It burned intensely,
yet did not burn away. I did not experience any
fear; if anything, I wanted the fire to burn
anything away that would separate me from His
presence.
I drank,
I ate, I worshipped, I laughed. I entered in as
deeply as He would allow me. I lost all concern
for my appearance while pursuing Him.
These
experiences have caused me to hunger for daily
worship and communion with my Lord. I awaken each
day with a renewed search for His will and His
pleasure. My hunger for His Word is greater than
before. Greater revelation has come as I read
with deeper understanding by the Spirit. My
prayer language flows readily throughout the day.
His presence is so near. Whenever I grieve Him,
and distance comes between us, I am quicker now
to run to Him for cleansing and renewed
fellowship.
He has
drawn me into daily worship time with Him. It is
most precious to me. I long for His presence like
never before. The ministry to which He has called
me has deepened. He has opened doors of ministry
to me. My church has licensed me and I minister
at my church as well as others I am invited to
minister at.
My heart
has been enlarged by His gentle hand. The love I
feel for His children and for the lost is greater
than ever. I am now understanding why He imparted
the revelation of worship to me in 1987. This
revelation has sent me on a spiritual journey
that has radically changed my life. The desire
that grows within me now is to impart that which
He has given to me. By His grace, I will walk
through the open doors He ordains.
Carolyn
Lee, Greensboro, NC