Personal Transformation

After his encounter with God, Hauge soon saw the needs of his people and immediately set out to do something about it: on one hand, preaching the word of God, and on the other hand, using his natural skills as an entrepreneur to begin many small businesses throughout Norway.  How did he encounter God? He claimed that he was walking behind the plow, singing a hymn, when suddenly his mind was lifted to God.  He testified that it was beyond emotions, outside his body, and he could not say whether the experience was happening to him or within him. It was such an overwhelming, ecstatic experience that words could not describe what he saw or the joy he felt. Later he spoke of it as though he by the grace of God has been allowed a foretaste of the kingdom of God. This was a turning-point, not only for Hans but also for the transformation of Norway. The spiritual experience liberated him and gave him a mission. 

The transformation that came to Hauge himself during his encounter with God included his remorse for his sins, for not having served God in all things. After that repentance, he felt that nothing in the world mattered, and the worldliness in which he struggled so hard just vanished. His mind and his spirit were transformed, converted and renewed through this powerful experience. From here on, he saw everything with new eyes. He received new understanding of the scriptures and felt a deep love for God, and this desire led him to persuade others to be partakers of the same grace as he had received everywhere, even out in the fields. He was driven by this call for the rest of his life. 

He was sometimes challenged by some church leaders about what he taught. He had to struggle alone, and had no one but God and the Bible to lean on. This is how he said it, "I conversed with the Lord concerning the matters I was struggling with both about the basics of God's words and how I was to make His name known for the purpose of bringing the people to repentance.  Then it was that He clearly spoke to me in the spirit providing me with the right answer." The first to be influenced by the born again Hans were two of his own sisters, and that was on the same day he encountered God. 

Spiritual transformation

Hauge was used by God to bring about spiritual transformation, social transformation and national transformation of his people.  Foremost, his preaching released spiritual liberation among the people.  Most (Lutheran) priests at that time were rationalistic. They spoke mostly to people's intellect, whereas Hauge spoke to their hearts. As a result of his preaching, several spiritual societies were founded, and these centers were organized into a network with Hauge as leader. They were organized into workers' movement and farmers' movement, etc. which developed Norway in the middle of the 19th century.  Despite the resistance that Hauge met from the leaders of the church, he still asked his friends to stay in the church. In his testament which is sent to friends all over the country, he emphasized that they had to protect the state church because it was the important foundation for the whole nation. Haugian centers were meant to be living cells within the state church. 

Wherever he shared about his gift of grace, those who heard him wept, the awakening spread fast to the neighbors in Tune, and then to the neighboring villages, and finally to almost all of the country as he traveled. He traveled all the way north to Troms and the revival went that far. There are many stories of people whose lives changed on hearing Hauge preach or just speak. He developed an intense prayer life. Wherever he shared, people listened and followed his advice, whether it concerned the establishment of a business or a spiritual fellowship in their community. Hauge became more and more convinced about the realization of the Lord's Prayer, 'Your Kingdom come.'  The kingdom of God exists or is present wherever the King is obeyed, wherever His will is done.  In heaven, God's will is fully done. If God's intentions are fully realized on earth, His kingdom has truly come on earth (Matthew 6:10)!