Sitting, waiting, and wishing: Hillsong United: The Aftermath Tour 2011 (Live in Manila)

Hillsong United: The Aftermath Tour 2011 (Live in Manila)

Posted in Labels: aftermath, aftermath concert, araneta coliseum, God, hillsong, hillsong united 11:32 PM

Nobody's good enough, that's why we all need Jesus... - Joel Houston (June 2, 2011)

AFTERMATH

noun. the period which follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects which it causes.

Last June 2, 2011, I was privileged enough to be part of the Hillsong United Aftermath Concert held at the Araneta Coliseum. God does wondrous things and the Spirit was definitely there. That was one of the most blessed nights I've ever had and I don't regret going.

We started lining up outside the Big Dome around 2:30pm, the people weren't that many yet, so we were able to line up pretty near the entrance. Around 6:00, the gates started to open, and after the hustle and bustle of lining up, with the unavoidable "singits" and whatevers, we were able to go inside the coliseum and got great seats!

When the first strains of the song "Go (Giving It All Away)" were heard, the crowd went crazy! I couldn't contain my excitement! Manang Diane, Manong Friday, Karmela and I were shouting already. As Manang Diane said, "This is so surreal." Surreal in way that we got used to watching their videos online, but were watching and worshipping together with them, LIVE!

When Joel Houston and the others started talking, I couldn't help but cling on to their words that were filled with hope. It is true that we don't need to fill a coliseum, an Australian worship band, and that number of people to worship Jesus. I couldn't count the number of times when I cried during the worship night.

Here's a video of Joel Houston explaining the Aftermath...

This whole night is called Aftermath, and we usually hear that word after an event, there's devastation... The truth is tonight, if it wasn't for Jesus, we'd all be caught in the aftermath of our failure.. we'd all be caught in the wreckage of our own lives.. our own mistakes..Because of Jesus, because of what He did on the cross, we get to live in a different kind of Aftermath... When He died on that cross, He took what was a symbol of failure, a symbol of shame, a symbol of death and He turned everything upside down.. And now that same cross stands for all time, for all mankind, for everyone, as the greatest symbol of hope, the greatest symbol of freedom, the greatest symbol of life.

I had goosebumps all the way. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing as I saw the whole Araneta worshipping, with arms raised, with eyes closed, a position of total surrender. There was no sign of disagreement as we focused on the greatest star of the concert: JESUS. I share the same sentiments with thousands of other people who attended that worship night.

The whole experience was overwhelming, like being filled to the brim with God's grace and blessings, filled with His love. The dawning that I am a better person because of Him. There is nothing on this earth that could replace the love and the compassion that the Lord has bestowed on us and there is nothing that can break that love.

Mighty to Save

Hosanna and All I Need Is You

And due to POPULAR DEMAND, the United band had to change their last song to ONE WAY, instead of what was originally in the setlist! Imagine the whole Araneta chanting, "Jesus! Jesus!" and "One Way! One Way!".