The Sovereign God is searching for the right vessels. Let’s try to identify a few of the principles out of Holy Scripture. Our Lord needs some saints - just one or maybe a few - that have reached the place of Holy Boldness in prayer. This is not arrogance or loud flesh but a boldness and unwavering humility. Holiness of character and conduct that Calvary has wrought in the soul is the foundation. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6b). Works-oriented holiness will not suffice. His blood, by the Holy Spirit alone, can lay the foundation.

Faith and expectancy will grow out of that pure soul as a search is pursued for the will of God on earth. Until the Spirit can convince you that a sovereign visitation is God’s will, you cannot know “expectancy.” The Bible words for this expectancy is “hope” and hope means, “joyous expectancy.” It’s that calm inward certainty that God said it, wills it, and is in the process of doing it. For the first time in my life, I feel this “hope.”

The saints expecting this sovereign visitation must develop the right understanding of circumstances around them. It does not mean the end of conflict or to expect Satan to vanish. The opposite is true, the conflict will explode and the devil will take out all stops. General Booth was known to tell his workers, “Keep your eyes off the waves and fix them on the tide.” Charles Finney would often say, “Look, the tides are rising.” Watch for tears, little children often lead the way and the tender saints begin to cry and mourn. It may start like a sprinkle but let every sign of conviction and brokenness encourage your soul.

Repentance in the church will begin to break. Saints will begin to hunger after the Lord. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (Psalm 42:1-3). Do not take this sign as proof that the battle is won. This is only the beginning and must be nurtured and backed up with strong praying. A breaking in God’s house can be stillborn if there are no saints of God that pursue this beginning with passion.

Consciousness of sin, carnality, and unfaithfulness will begin to produce confession and rededication, followed by restitution. Saints will begin to ask forgiveness, pleading for a ministry in God’s house and even catch up on back tithes. The pastor will be thrilled with a new respect that is manifest toward the preached word and a new anointing on the Gospel will be evident. The windows of Heaven will appear to be opening toward a downpour.

Tenderness for souls, the freedom from prejudice of color or class, and the excitement of rejoicing over the harvest will become visible. When God is preparing for a full display of His glory, there can be nothing but unity in the House of God. The power of prayer is ready to break, and the Spirit of God is preparing the saints and His vessels of honor.

Now, the boldness of Biblical praying can truly reach its zenith. Until the soul trembles to even consider entering God’s presence, little can come of prayer. We only have one door into the Holy place, that door is the veil of His flesh. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” (Hebrews 10:19-20). God has chosen that a broken and bold entrance into His presence must precede His revelation of Himself to His church. A sovereign visitation will never be manifest during this church age except in this “Ole Ship of Zion.” The world is full of religious row-boats, but they are sailing nowhere. They will vanish or fade into significance as God Himself visits His Holy Saints.

Prepare yourself for this “Shekinah Visitation.” I suggest living in Romans chapters six and eight for a few weeks. Pursue a deep-abiding purity by His blood. Wait on a filling of the Holy Spirit that will consume you. Seek the mind of God so you can feel what God is about to do in His church and earth. Let His faith become your faith instead of trying to make your faith His faith.