Dorm Room Giant

           The Lord has typically moved in big ways since my calling, but this time had me trembling in fear. To say the angel was a giant is an understatement compared to the supernatural encounter I had while studying for a theology degree at Malone University. I had been encountering the angelic for som e time already but was not prepared for such a massive encounter with immediate practical application. It was during my senior year in college. Supernatural stories abound from my time there, but this one rattled me to the bone.

               In my freshman year I had already a been drawn to the subject matter of the angelic. It even started earlier since my third heaven experience in 1992. It was now 6 years later. My future, I thought, was set to be on a certain career trajectory. The standard idea of preaching over a congregation and shake hands afterward. My social status in the community people could look up to. Doing weddings, hospital visits, funerals - all the typical stuff. As the Lord has done many times since my calling encounter with seraphim, He interrupted my life and sent me in the Way of His heart’s desire. Today would be no exception that the Lord would show Himself in such extreme measures. Angelic encounters would once again reformat what I thought I should be doing.

               It was Thanksgiving break and the campus was deserted. Being a non-traditional student at 27 years old, I stayed on campus for the weekend while almost every student made their way back home or somewhere else for the holiday. I enjoyed the solitude since I was a prominent personality that even some would celebrate. The peace was welcomed as rested for the first couple days. I still had plenty of time, but I felt refreshed enough to crack open the books and dig into some homework that was due Monday. As long as the kids were gone, I was going to work most peacefully.

               Opening my schoolbooks and staring out the picture window out across the baseball field; it was a beautiful day. I was looking forward to getting my schoolwork done earlier, so I could just rest the remainder of the weekend. As I sat working, I began to experience a lack of peace which was odd because I was so content up to that point. I asked the Lord what He might understand concerning my lack of peace but heard nothing. praying for peace didn't resolve my disruption, so I decided to do something else relaxing, yet productive. I opened my closet door and started shuffling things around to straighten and organize. Yes, I had the remainder of the day and the next to get as much done as possible before school would resume on Monday. I still had the full Saturday to be productive and still enjoy the beauty of my solitude. Any accomplishment was certain to make me feel complete and ready for a new week.

               I was getting concerned at this point because the lack of peace continued and I could not continue doing as I wanted. In my seeking, I kept trying to think of what I was supposed to be doing. Maybe just rest, but that was not the answer either.

“Lord, Lord, I do not know what this is about, but I bow before you.”

At that point, I got on my knee as the Holy Spirit enlarged the Lord’s presence within me to overflowing. As I continued to pray and ask why my peace had been taken for doing the things I thought were good stewardship. I really wanted to know why I was not sensing His lead or blessing. Suddenly, an enormous presence encroached me. The tallest angel I had ever encountered approached me. If he was 50ft, he might as well have been 500 foot tall. Fear came over me like nothing I’ve known in my life. My forehead thrust to the carpet, as I desperately cried out, “What is it my Lord?” My hands trembled uncontrollably as a pure fear gripped my attention.

Psalm 19:9

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

               I had never known the fear of the Lord in this manner prior. In my kneeling posture with head on the ground, I heard the directions I needed. “Get the Experiencing God workbook off the shelf.” Barely lifting my head so my eye could peek over at the plastic milk cartons stacked beside the bunkbed filled with books. “Start a study group” I heard the Spirit say. His voice had an immediacy to it as if it was to be right now.

I have no idea why I contend with the Lord sometimes, especially not now with a giant angel standing before me larger than the entire building complex. I said, “but Lord there is no one on campus,” as I continued to shake and tremble. The Spirit spoke nothing else as if just waiting for me to do as I heard.

I was stuck with the directive to start up a study group to go through Henry Blackaby’s teaching called Experiencing God. I had gone through it with my home church already and now the Lord desired me to share it with some of my classmates in the Lord. I do not remember the angel leaving because the massive presence of the Lord took over from there. I called one colleague and to my surprise he also stayed behind for the holiday weekend, so I asked if he wanted to meet me for lunch. When I introduced the idea for the study group, he said “this is exactly what I have been praying for.” Then he asked someone and some others guys coming back to campus early happened to cross my path. Each one I invited said the same thing. “This is what I have been praying about.” Six hours later a group of us met in a meeting room upstairs in the Campus library.

After kicking off the study that night, I decided to facilitate passing the workbook around, so each man would take turns leading a section of the study. Each one had tremendous encounters and revelatory insight given to them as we continued to meet for the winter and into the spring. The entire school year was exciting in many ways for all the Lord did, but this group of six guys meeting together following the instructions given by a humungous angelic encounter was dynamic beyond measure. This group of six guys had life changing indelible markings embedded upon them for the rest of their lives. 25 years later I heard reports of how that semester meant so much and they would never forget it.

It was amazing how some heard the Lord’s voice audibly. Some were so excited they would call or knock on my door at unexpected hours and tell me things the Lord spoke to them.