Powerful First Night in California

Living Proof California began with so many challenges we could expect nothing less than for God to show up and do something powerful. There were personal tragedies, physical illness, and active resistance from pastors and churches. The enemy did not want this tent to happen, but we are so grateful our God is more powerful than the enemy.

I didn’t know what to expect arriving at the tent. When I first walked in I was a bit disappointed if I’m being honest. It wasn’t the usual overflow of people hours before starting time. I was angry and disappointed at pastors and leaders and church goers who would ever dare to challenge anything who’s goal was to win souls.

But after I got my gear loaded in, made my usual rounds through the property, and prepared for the night ahead, I looked up and suddenly the tent was full of people.

Then Catherine and her band took the stage and the presence of God entered the tent like it always does. And I was reminded, God is bigger than all of us and what He wants accomplished is going to be accomplished. It may not look or behave the way I want or expect, but it will be exactly what He wants.

The time of singing praise was amazing. I love Catherine because she has the exact same heart as Mario. She wants to see the lost saved and the sick healed. And they led us into the presence of God and the atmosphere in the tent shifted in a powerful way.

Mario took the stage and you could hear the strain in his voice as he’s been fighting something in his chest the past week. But He was not letting the enemy win even this one round.

He led the people in praying, “Lord Jesus, let this be the night that the great revival of California bagan. Let signs and wonders be done in the name of Jesus. Let the power of the Holy Spirit flood this tent, in the name of Jesus.”

Mario then began his message telling the people how it was one of the hardest weeks of his life. That it began with losing his voice. And then receiving a call from his sister in law with news that his brother had died suddenly.

It left him in stunned shock for days. Barely able to talk, dealing with the loss of his brother, and then knowing he had to still come preach in the tent rather than slip off somewhere to hide, it was an amazing work of the power of God. Then on top of that a local group attacked the crusade because of Mario’s political position.

And he came into the meeting feeling like, “What else?” But he knew the hand of God was on this outreach. And charged the people to have the best crusade ever.

This led to his message which he titled, “Will You Survive the Storm that is Coming?”

He said this week was the closest he ever came to asking what millions of American’s are asking. The question: “Why did God let this happen to me?” And that its a question nearly everyone in the room has asked them self. But now in the current climate of America we are asking it almost every day.

There is a belief in asking that question that somehow God has the capacity to fail. That somehow He can run the full universe but mess up when it comes to you. And it would almost be funny if it wasn’t so painful.

But the real question should be “What would it have been like if it had happened to me and I didn’t have God?”

Mario told the people we read the Bible wrong. He read the passage about building a house on the sand and on the rock. He said we secretly nurse a myth about God, if we were to follow Jesus we would never face tragedy.

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)

But the interesting fact about that is, if the Christian were to never face a storm Jesus would have said it doesn’t matter where you build your house. You can build it on the sane, on the rock, on a mountain, or in a valley. But in this story Jesus told location was everything and it is because storms are coming.

Mario told a story about a time when he was interviewed on a radio show after a terrible hurricane had devastated a region. The interviewer asked, why would a loving God allow Christians to die right along side people who were not Christians. If He were a God of love why would He do that?

The Holy Spirit gave him the answer to the question. He responded, “I never became a Christian because it meant the end of storms. I because a Christian because storms are coming. And if you have to go through a storm, it is better with Jesus than without Him.”

The idea God allowed a tragedy is not an argument against Christianity, instead it is one of the strongest arguments for it. If America is so enlightened, why can’t they live one day without self medicating with drugs or online distractions?

Americans are in pain and we know who to blame. Of course its the devil, but not just him. Its how the devil has used, the woke philosophy poisoning gender, poisoning freedom, poisoning race, poisoning the well of American life. And its making us miserable.

He said if we read this verse in the style of modern evangelism, it would say “…and the floods did not come, the winds did not blow…” But it doesn’t say that.Instead it tells us the reason we need Christ more than we can imagine, is because those storms and challenges are coming.

Mario went on to ask the people to allow him to pray for them. He said for those who are saying, I need a new life, I need the real power of God, I need to be forgiven of all my sin, and I need to be transformed, to raise their hands. Then he had them stand and come to the front of the tent.

I think this might be the fastest I’ve ever seen the people move to the altar area. And they came fast and filled that front altar area and down through the aisles. It was one of the largest responses I’ve ever seen. It was absolutely incredible.

After praying fot the people Mario had them go out for some brief ministry with our awesome workers, who prayed with each of them. As I walked through that crowd I was struck that it looked as large as some of our previous tent meetings, just the people receiving Christ tonight.

When I walked back inside the tent it appeared at least half the people in the tent were not in the seats. Nearly half the people in attendance coming to Christ – this is what its about. This is what enduring the storms are for. This is why we follow God in holding these crusades, bringing the tent to cities all over the United States.

The time of ministry at the end of the night felt different than it has in the past. Yes God identifies specific people, having them stand, calling out their specific needs as God healed their bodies. But many more of the healings consisted of Mario calling out specific illnesses, cancer, and all manner of disease. People were clearly being touched and healed.

As always I can’t wait to hear about the many stories that come back as people realize over the next couple days they have been made whole. Some will know because their pain is gone, some because the struggles they had they no longer have, and others will go to their doctor who will confirm that their illness or handicap is now gone. I love seeing people touched by the power of God. I never tire of it.

If you were in the tent you know what I’m talking about. It was a powerful night. If you were not, don’t worry there are still three more nights. If you are anywhere near the Central California area you really should make every effort to join us.

Monday, October 29 through Wednesday, October 31 at 6:30 PM. Located at the International Agricultural Center in Tulare, CA

4500 S Laspina St, Tulare, CA

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