Prayer Revival

This is a revival that you and your intercessors may participate in immediately. It is a revival that God has already commenced. His Word promises that where two or three or gathered in His name, He will be in their midst. We just need to understand what it means to “gather in His name.”

The Hebraic understanding of the word “name” meant “character.” We must pray the way Jesus prayed if we are to pray in His character and nature. Jesus taught His disciples to follow a pattern of prayer which we call the “Lord’s Prayer” of the “Our Father.” We first honor and praise God the Father. Then we pray that His Kingdom would come and that His will would be done — on earth — that means in our lives. The “on earth means” — in us.

Our prayer meetings must be Jesus’ prayer meeting. He wants to lead us in prayer. He wants us to hear the solutions that the Father gives to those intercessors who take the time to come into His presence and listen. We must hear and all be in agreement. We must pray in oneness with the Father and the Son. We are to discard our lists and pray what God gives us to pray. We are to pray His words. When we do we are prophesying His answer into existence.

There is much more to say on the matter. If we want to participate in the revival that God is establishing then we must be willing to participate at the most basic level — the level of true intercessory prayer. If we want revival for our land then we must receive revival for ourselves. We must hear, pray, and obey the Word of God.

Going On Beyond

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” Mark 6:45-50

What is quite remarkable in this reading from Mark’s Gospel is that Jesus’ apparent destination and purpose was not joining his disciples in the boat. His intention, rather, was to go on ahead of them to the other side of the lake. Jesus has a purpose that is greater than ours. We want Him to ratify and bless what we are doing. We want Him to join us in a sinking boat. And often He does out of compassion. But His plans and purposes are much greater then ours and time is running out.

Jesus is more interested in His true disciples joining Him rather than His joining of them.

They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him. Mark 10:32

If true revival is to be consummated in America then the American Church must join Jesus and not the other way around. Are we ready to follow Jesus. Are we willing to get out of a sinking boat. Are we as interested in going on with Jesus to His destination as He is, or are we more interested in diverting Jesus for our own purposes?

What does it mean to go on beyond with Jesus? It means taking our minds off our circumstances and placing them on Christ alone. It means a willingness to give up all that we hold dear if it is holding us back from a faithful walk with our Lord. It means giving up denominational spirits. It means abandoning all programs. It means doing the very thing that Jesus is asking us to do that we do not want to do. It means trusting Jesus more than ourselves. It means forsaking the good for the God’s best. it means going from glory to glory without stopping and building a booth. It means going on up the mountain without even stopping to look at the pretty scenery down in the valley. And it means continually being before the Lord on our faces in prayer with a true hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Blueprint For Revival

There are no magic formulas for revival. If this were true then real spiritual revival would have followed if we had simply followed certain prescribed steps. We do know, however, what God’s Word tells us:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

The above passage is God’s blueprint for reviving His people. Are we His people? Yes, we are. We Christians are from the seed of Abraham. We are the in-grafted branches of the House of Israel through the blood of Jesus Christ. (We will speak of Israel in another installment.)

Pastors, I am compelled and authorized to let you in on a secret. Revival is on our shores. It is up to us to see that it moves inland. You see, the intercessors have already prayed and God has heard their cry. They have humbled themselves and they have repented. And they are ready to lead the charge if you will let them. Never mind what the bishops and “apostles” are saying. What is the Spirit saying to you and your church?

Get together with your intercessors and pray. Do not be threatened by them. It is true, God is about to change your world and your ministry. Let it all go and put everything in His hands. You should not love your world so much anyway. If things were so good why would we be in need of a revival?

God wants to prepare you and then your church for His glory. Your intercessors will help you. You must be in agreement with them and you must repent. Allow God to inter into the midst of your intercessory prayer time. Allow Him to remain. Listen to what He says and do it. Then allow Him to enter into your church. We are not talking about signs and wonders. We are speaking of His manifest presence and glory.

Do not be so quick to shut down a meeting. You do have the authority to bind and loose. But if you bind up the work of God and His people there will be grave consequences. If you are looking for credit and validation then it is time to allow God to heal you or to move you out of the way.

This is no time to be listening to the voice of the enemy. Notice this, the enemy is not telling you how to have a revival (unless you are listening to fallen angels.) He is telling you that you will lose control and the people will no longer love you. Yes, you will lose some control. And many people will turn against you if they have not already. But will you miss the day of God’s visitation?

The Winds of Revival

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:8

A revival is blowing. Many will not recognize it. Church leaders are too busy conducting their own programs to notice. But there are some who are aware of this wind. They did not call upon God for the wind. Rather, the intercessors in their church are the ones who called upon God. They confessed their sins and the sins of the nation. And they humbled themselves before God. They did not do so merely to save their church. They called upon God to save their nation. Intercessors, you know who you are even if your pastors do not.

The winds of revival are blowing. For those who perceive this, what you do next is very important. You may not understand what is happening but you do know that something is happening. What you are perceiving is something that you will not be able to control. If you attempt to control it you will lose it.

Why not let God’s revival control you? We are desperately in need of a revival that puts God back in charge of His Church. We should not worry about what God will do. Rather, we should worry about what God will not do.

Preaching Revival

Today I make good on my promise. What do we need to do to participate in revival? Notice I did not say: “What must we do to start a revival?” We can study past revivals all we want but we will not be able to start a revival.

I want to start with the preachers. The title above suggests that we need to revive preaching in America. It also suggests what we need to preach. We need to preach revival. Who is preaching it? Are you? Why not? We cannot start a revival, but we can participate in the revival that God starts. How? By being in agreement with His message.

Preachers, are you still preparing a sermon? Why a sermon? No one needs your sermon. Your people need a fresh word from God for them at this particular time. How can they hear unless you preach God’s Word — not your word. God is speaking to the Church. He is speaking to you. It is time to humble yourself learn how to listen to what He is saying.

How do you do it? Spend time with Him in prayer. Get together with your intercessors and pray. Get into God’s presence and listen. Then pray what He gives you to pray and preach what God gives you to preach. Leave your prayer list behind as well as your sermon notes.

And do not try to take over the prayer time and impose your program. Your seminary training does not qualify you to lead prayer. Let those who practice prayer do it. Set an example of humility before your people. Please don’t pray like the pastors do at the pastors meetings. Just let the intercessors  know and let God know that you are hungry for revival. (Maybe you don’t have intercessors — just elders. Elders should be intercessors. I will write more on this later.)

You might say that I am not a prophet. I can’t speak God’s Word. Then get out of the pulpit. You may  not serve in the office of a prophet, but God wants you to preach prophetically. You may say you are a liturgical preacher and must follow the lectionary readings. Well, did not Jesus follow the lectionary of the synagogue? And yet He preached prophetically. He also taught. It is possible to teach prophetically as well.

Maybe the prophetic word will not be profitable? (Although some modern day “prophets” who sell books and conduct seminars might disagree.) Maybe the prophetic word will not be popular? This is a lie from the enemy. Many in America are desperate for a Word from God. How will you know unless you preach the Word. Even if it is not received in your church, your commission is to preach the Word in season and out. You step into the revival and there will be those who step in with you. If you do not, revival will pass you by and you will be held accountable for not warning the people.

Are you desperate enough to listen and preach what God gives you? He does not need your help to start a revival. He needs your faithfulness. Are you desperate enough to pray in agreement with your intercessors? Are you desperate enough to put your programs aside? Are you desperate enough to let the Spirit of God move in the midst of your congregation without your control or taking any credit?

God was doing a new thing in Jonathan Edwards’ day. Edwards was faithful. He just preached the Word.

The Gatekeepers

Let me be clear. I was a pastor and I understand pastors’ concerns. Nonetheless, we must now understand God’s concerns and put His concerns first if we love His kingdom and if we love our people.

God is ready for a revival. Are we? America is not ready but desperately needs revival. Most American churches are not ready. But there are a significant number of remnant churches that are ready. In those churches God is asking the pastors to step up and understand what He is doing. God is doing a new thing. Do we not see it?

Pastors, we are not the narrow way through which people must enter. Jesus is that way. Are we standing in the way of our people and opposing God?

It should be easy to tell if we are. Are we controlling the prayer meetings or are we releasing the intercessors to pray as the Spirit leads them? Are we robbing God of His praise by prolonging worship events for our aggrandizement. (What about you worship leaders?) Is there an open heaven over our church where prayers might receive answers and yet we are still equivocating in our prayer requests because of our own unbelief. Are we begging God or are we getting into His presence and prophesying over the circumstances with the assurance and authority that He gives us? In other words, are we listening to Him and acting as He directs or are we continuing to piously lecture God?

No true healing and deliverance in the church? But plenty of bizarre signs and wonders? Sounds more like witchcraft and sorcery than sound preaching and teaching. Pastors, we need to repent. Our church is big and successful and we are still preaching the “prosperity gospel?” We need to repent. Our church is small yet orthodox in its beliefs – but nothing is happening? The lost are not being saved? We need to repent. We are not having communion services because there just isn’t enough time to get it all in? Our sermons are too long and we are not balanced. We need to repent. We are not out on the street and in our communities and we are not disciplining our people to do the same? We need to repent.

Not preaching revival? Not preaching the Kingdom of God is at hand? Not preaching repentance? Saying that what we have in our church is pleasing to God and that it is like the Kingdom. We need to repent. Jesus preached that the Kingdom was at hand and that repentance was necessary. That was the same message given by His forerunner John. When people heeded the message great things started happening.

Homosexuality and abortions are not the concern of the church? These are too controversial and we do not need to go there? Premarital sex is not that big a deal? We need to stay out of people’s private lives and not be judgmental? The Apostle Paul did write that we should not judge the world. We do need to reach out the lost. But Paul did say that we have the right and obligation to judge the church. We are to teach and we are to disciple and we are to give witness to the conduct that pleases God. We are not condemned if we are in Christ. But certain actions are condemned if we do not repent and receive God’s deliverance and healing.

You may say that you do not understand all this and that even if you did you could not do it all. If so, you are right. In fact, you and I cannot do any of it. We need to step out of the way and let Jesus take over His Church. But first, we must allow Him to take us over. Are we sold out to Him? We just need more of Jesus in our lives and in our church. It is His church and He can do all these things. He said we could do these things too if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us.

What is in us? Who is in us? Are we men pleasers or God pleasers? Are we just spouting old cliches and politically correct sermons? If so, we are leading our people to hell. God will pass us by, but he will hold us accountable for not warning the people and for not trusting in His Word.

Revival is at our door. Are we shutting that door. Jesus said:

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Rev. 3:19-22 NIV

Spiritual Bankruptcy

When I was a small boy living on the York River one of my duties was bailing out our row boat after a rain storm. If I was not attentive to this duty the boat might sink and be lost. The term “bailout” has a special significance to me. When the ship is sinking, bailouts are important and necessary. But the right kind of bailout must be applied.

The chart above does not represent the current financial status in America. It represents America’s spiritual state. Why are the financial bailout remedies not working? Because our problems are spiritual and not financial. Financial remedies will not do it alone. We are treating the symptoms rather than the disease. Some of the financial system medicine may be necessary. God’s spiritual remedy is absolutely mandatory.

The good news is that God has the answers for America. He is now sharing them with His intercessors. Up to now this blog has been mostly about defining the problem. Now we will focus on the solutions in the coming weeks. We do not have the answers, but we are hearing what God is telling us. Perhaps you are hearing similar things. Please share what the Spirit is telling you.

Many false prophets are still forecasting financial prosperity. It has been a popular message, and up until now it has paid well. But now God has brought His judgment against greed and the worship of Mammon.

Other “prophets” areforecasting doom and gloom, and are now saying that it is too late for revival in America. That is what Jonah wanted to believe about Nineveh. To be sure, God was going to destroy the city. Nevertheless, the people of Nineveh heeded the voice of the prophet. And God changed His plan.

What kind of plans does God have for America? The key is God’s plan and not our plan. God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel and asked: “Can these bones live?” He had a plan for Israel that the prophet did not comprehend. But the prophet listened. God has a plan for America. Are we ready to listen America?

America’s Exports

We live in an age of “globalization.” We import many products and we export many. What about ideas? America has been known as a nation of liberty, personal freedom, democracy, and Judaeo-Christian beliefs and values.

We were once the greatest Christian missionary nation on earth. The English settlers of Jamestown first stopped on the shores at Cape Henry. There they made a covenant with God to spread the Gospel. God accepted the promise that was made and He blessed America in so many ways.

What are we exporting now? Some of our biggest exports are Hollywood movies, many of them obscene. We have also exported a good part of our national debt. But we were not very truthful about some of those debt instruments.

Our churches have exported the “prosperity gospel.” We have taught poor countries that God will not bless them unless they are willing to sacrifice much of their hard earned wages.

It is true that we have spilled much American blood for the cause of freedom. We have attempted to protect people from terrorism and genocide. But we have also committed genocide on our own unborn children. Not only that, we are now exporting our abortion industry overseas!

America is a mess. America needs to repent. We have lost our moral authority. We have lost our way. And now we are finding how fleeting “prosperity” can be.

We need to return to the covenant we made with God.

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

The Gospel of Greed

Where did Wall Street learn about the “gospel of greed?” Perhaps from the American Church.

Sow a seed. (Play the offering plate lottery.) God wants to bless you. He wants you to prosper.

By “prosper” do you mean “money?”

Why, of course. What else could prosperity mean. God wants to bless you. But first you must give some money to me.

That sounds like a pyramid scheme.

No, it’s just God’s economy. It is about sowing and reaping, you see? Sowing comes before reaping. You must give me some money. And someone else will give me some money. And you don’t have to worry whether of not you can afford to give right now. Give on faith. (You can leverage your gift.) It will all come back to you in the end, because God wants to bless you and God wants to bless America.

But didn’t Jesus say?

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.  Matthew 6:24

Yes, but He wasn’t talking about money, was He?. Money is O.K. Wasn’t He just talking about “greed?”

The Greater Works Ministry

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”   John 14:7-14 NASB

The key to the “greater works” ministry that Jesus promised is our knowing Jesus and understanding how He did His works. Jesus asked: “Have you not known me, Philip?” Do we as a church know Jesus? From all appearances in today’s church in America we do not. We have substituted our programs for Jesus. Worst yet, we have substituted our gifts and anointings for Jesus. Jesus is even greater than these.

If we are willing to get to know Jesus in new and more intimate ways then we will begin to understand how He did His ministry. (Some evangelists and revivalists are content on knowing certan angels instead.) Jesus wants to teach us how to do ministry. We should do ministry the way He did ministry on the earth. Let us not forget that He emptied Himself before coming to the earth as a human being. He had to rely upon an anointing from the Holy Spirit to do His ministry. In fact, He went one step further that “Pentecostals” need to grasp. He relied upon the Father to do the ministry through Him. The Father directed Him. Jesus explained: “The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.”

Jesus wants to lead us to the Father. In fact, Jesus is the only one who can present us spotless before the Father. Then He wants to teach us how to listen to the Father.

There is a new generation of leaders that will grasp this message. But there are many prominent leaders in America that would rather rely upon their gifts instead. That way they can keep control of things. But revival will not come through them. Do we want revival? Do we want to obey the Father? Do we want the Father’s Kingdom or our kingdom? If we align ourselves and our ministries with the Father’s will then we can ask what we will. But there will be no glory for us. All the glory goes to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.