What I Have Learned From Revival
What I Have Learned From Revival
I was prompted by the Lord this afternoon to sit down and write out a few observations of what I have learned since beginning itinerant ministry six years ago:
1. God can show up in the most unlikely of places, in the most unlikely of ways, though the most unlikely of people, at the most unlikely of times! The timing is really not our choice, its God's: our schedule and His schedule are two different things!
2. Preparation for revival is a process many churches get weary of! [fasting, prayer meetings, giving, the constant talking and preaching about the revival that is coming] But those who are willing to accept that as the DNA of that particular ministry will enjoy the fruit of it!
3. When revival hits, many times we are still not completely prepared! In fact, I don't know if you will ever be completely prepared!
4. Revival may look different in different places. For some it will simply be in the form of the regular scheduled services, but the services will have a marked increase in the manifest Presence of God! Others will hold extended services and meetings; others will experience a new focus on outreach and birthing of new ministries; but all will know there is a marked difference in the worship, preaching, teaching and attitude of the people! And yes, people will be saved, healed, delivered and drawn closer to God!
5. When revival comes, many times pride sets in and people try to market it, or build a new "movement" around it or out of it.
6. Revival can be very messy! Every baby delivery room I have ever been in both during and after the birth of a new baby, there has been a lot of blood, messy linens, after birth, screams, crying, (even some cursing), but afterwards MUCH JOY!
7. A revival can either revolutionize you or repulse you! Just as a new child revolutionizes a family (changes everything that family does from scheduling to feeding!) so do new converts and a new move of God! But how many times have we prayed in a move of God's Spirit, but because we didn't like the way the "baby" looked, we abandoned it?
8. There are "birthers" and then there are "sustainers" …sometimes a church or ministry can do both; but many moves of God have been lost because we failed to follow through with God to be able to sustain the move for a long period of time. Brownsville has been the exception, in that they were able to sustain the move of God there for a longer period than anyone thought they could.
9. Finally, we must learn in revival when to move on to the next season in God! There is a season of revival, then there is a season to rejoice over the harvest or spoils of revival; then we must learn to start the process all over again! There is an even greater move of God's Spirit He wants to send!
10. Most of all, real revival will bring all the Glory and the Honor to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ! It will never be deposited to glorify a man or a church or a denomination: it will be to Glorify God!
This is certainly not an exhaustive list, nor do I claim it to be completely authoritative; my hearts desire is for all of us to be ready when He arrives with His Glory to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea!