Archive for October 2011
The religious system’s fight against revival : A threat is coming to the church
Revival is a serious threat to the prevailing church structure as it will put at risk every comfort zone we know.
The reformation that revival will facilitate will cause quite a resistance even from many of the most devoted Believers due to some significant threats to their comfort zones.
It’s important to understand that it’s a religious spirit that is the force behind anything that might resist a costly revival.
Religion is: man’s attempt to use God to get what he wants
Jesus threatened the church of the day—so the church killed him. They got what they wanted.
Today, it’s normal for many to attempt to use God or to use the church to get what they want. They want life to be comfortable and convenient. They want the church experience to be a certain way. They might shop around until they find the spiritual experience that meets their desires and demands. If people aren’t careful, they can unwittingly embrace a spirit of religion while minimizing the cost, the cross and the mandate to surrender all for the sake of Kingdom advance.
As revival approaches, here are some of the issues we will have to wrestle through:
- All traditions are at risk: Traditions have the power to void the Word of God (Mat 15)! It’s no wonder God is so intent on resolving this issue. The coming reformation will impact many traditions that have become signatures of church as we know it. It’s imperative that we don’t resist the change that will affect the days and times we gather together, the style of worship we’ve become familiar with, programs, etc. The coming church will look nothing like the church we know today. Kim Clement said recently, “The church as we know it is being abolished.”
- Pastors will have to face the risk of losing people, money and their reputations: The pressure for church growth, and the temptation to compete with other pastors and churches for the best ministry, is pretty extreme. Additionally, drastic change to the familiar church experience will be a serious threat to pastor’s salaries and retirements. The fear of loss will hit many. If people who are unwilling to buy into such a drastic change and such a zealous experience decide to leave the church, their money leaves with them. Further, if people leave the church, accusations of pastoral failure will start to fly. Reputations will be lost. The question is, is a move of God more important than security and position?
- Local church missions will have to adjust: When revival lands, it will probably land in a single location. That location most likely won’t be our specific church. This means that local church leaders will have to have open hands and and be quick to release the people in their church to participate at a high level in the revival. The pastors will need to lead the people out as they join forces with the greater city church. When I went to the outpouring in Lakeland, Florida I was saddened that no church marquee gave any indication that they were cancelling some services so they could participate in the revival. Not one. I wonder if the threat of that revival caused them to lock everybody down and keep them far from that tent where the fire of God chose to manifest.
- Investment will increase radically: The time, money and focus required to steward a revival is off the charts. Cares of life must finally be dealt with and preparations to spend day after day and dollar after dollar must be made. Lesser priorities will have to take a back seat to the coming ‘all hands on deck’ season.
- Acts 2:46 (NKJV) 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple…
- We will have to release control: The Holy Spirit is going to manifest in such bizarre and extreme measure that those who are nervous about such environments will be tempted to shut it down.
- Acts 2:12-13 (NKJV) 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
- Most people don’t like change, and that is a problem: Leaders tend to shy away from alienating the people they are leading, but a crisis is coming. The change that’s coming to the church will cause most to vehemently resist. Will we as leaders respond to God or man? Peter, interested in man ahead of God, unwittingly renounced the great change and cost of the cross, and Jesus gave him one of the strongest rebukes in scripture. Peter was embracing religion, the desire to use God and eliminate the cross. This religious disposition is a serious risk to revival.
- Mark 8:31-33 (ESV) 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
- Sharp yet love filled prophetic messages must be preached: In Acts 2 direct and prophetic teaching was a direct result of the outpouring. The days of sloppy grace and tickled ears must come to an end.
- Acts 2:36-37 (NKJV) 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
The systems that we have developed are about to be destroyed as God paves the way for the coming church. The revival that’s nearly hear will be both great and terrible. It won’t be a series of nice meetings, but rather it will break a lot so that the love and abundant life of Jesus can be felt in much fuller measure.
Revival Infographic : Covens in the Church tomorrow
Wonder what it will take for revival to break out? Evan Roberts knows first hand.
FIRST: Audit theLab class COVENS IN THE CHURCH tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am-2pm. Just show up and pay $15 at the door and get ready for a message that will set you free! If you struggle with submission to authority, this class is for you!
![Church-Attendance-Infographic-web_thumb[3]](https://burton.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Church-Attendance-Infographic-web_thumb3.jpg "Church-Attendance-Infographic-web_thumb[3]")
Ten Audacious Church Goals : The unapologetic passion of Revival Church
The goal of the church must never be to blend in—NEVER.
au·da·cious adj
1a : intrepidly daring : adventurous <an audacious mountain climber> b : recklessly bold : rash <an audacious maneuver>
2: contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : insolent
3: marked by originality and verve <audacious experiments>
Every definition of the word audacious fits perfectly in the definition of the mission of the church. It certainly does for the church I am so honored to lead, Revival Church in the Detroit area.
In a season where most of the church in the Western world has been marginalized, the time is now for daring, bold, and yes, reckless leaders to pierce a stagnant, stale and religious culture with the sharp sword of the Spirit of the Lord. Now is the time for burning men and women to shock the nations.
REVIVAL CHURCH
I will never apologize for the white hot passion we have for the presence and plans of our wonderfully fearful God. In fact, we are still quite far from the level of trembling and zeal that will soon be here. The fire must get perpetually and exponentially hotter.
We refuse to get excited about any goals that don’t require ridiculous faith and that don’t cause the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of religion to shudder. Those kingdoms are coming down.
The plan of action includes the pursuit of extreme Holy Spirit activity. Signs, wonders, miracles and experiential manifestations of the glory of God are key. We are going after God with abandon!
So many people believe that we are waiting for God to bring revival…and that we have to jump through hoops to cause him to do it. What a frustrating life to live! Jesus let us know that he was done. He said, “It is finished.” He sent the apostles to do the work that Jesus used to do when he was on the Earth. He said he’d send the Promise, the Holy Spirit, to enable them. So they waited for the Holy Spirit…but we don’t have to! He has been empowering us for 2000 years! Now we literally carry God and we have every resource right now to release revival into the world! We aren’t waiting for God, he’s waiting for us!
It’s time to gather together, to receive ridiculous vision, stir up crazy faith and plan the impossible! We can bring revival to Detroit now!
TEN AUDACIOUS GOALS
- It’s all about the numbers. At Revival Church we are fearlessly going after those that yearn for God, and we are out to build the largest and most impactful ministry in Detroit—and every other pastor in this region should have the same audacious plans! If the Detroit Lions can hold Sunday services and unapologetically draw in 70,000 people to Ford Field, you have to be kidding if you think Christian leaders should have a problem with determining to have a greater impact. I see stadiums filled week after week with fervent lovers of Jesus in Detroit. (I can’t wait for TheCall on 11/11/11, but it’s an indictment against the church that months of cheerleading and mobilization must take place prior to the event just so the church would show up for one service at Ford Field—and the tickets are free!)
- Acts 2:47 (NKJV) 47 … And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
- The culture will never drive us. It’s time for the church to repent for succumbing to the busyness and distractions of American culture. We are calling people to a fully immersive life of Kingdom activity. Instead of cancelling services out of respect for the distracted we are calling a company of forerunners to blaze a trail of Acts chapter 2 style devotion and urgency. Someone asked Pastor Steve Gray, the leader of the Smithton Outpouring, “How is it that you can be at church six nights a week?” Steve replied, “How is it that you can watch TV six nights a week?”
- Ephesians 5:14-17 (ESV) 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- We are planning on hosting and serving one of the worlds greatest revivals in history. The times are urgent, and the harvest is waiting. We acknowledge that many other amazing churches are building according to the critical plans God has given them. But, the vision we have cannot be found anywhere in Detroit, so we are provoked to build. There is a Nehemiah cry that is resounding at Revival Church. The project is massive and the time is short. We both praying and working simultaneously so the masses have a place to go on any weekend or weekday to experience the revival they so crave.
- Nehemiah 4:1-2 (NKJV) 1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish–stones that are burned?"
- We are to be a threat to the status quo. The religious structures are coming down. We embrace the principles of the story of Gideon. Religious altars are coming down and an army of fearless warriors is being raised up to take a city. We have no option to blend into the prevailing church landscape. It’s time to war!
- Acts 17:6 (ESV) 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
- The 24/7 church will be the norm. If the Tigers and Red Wings can dominate the night here in Detroit, and if thousands converge together in unity to celebrate them, we won’t stop until the same level of devotion is found in the church.
- Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV) 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
- We are believing for millions of dollars to come into Revival Church. We are boldly praying and asking for the resources to complete our mission. A religious spirit will attempt to shoot down such a focus, but if a person can believe for his household bills to be paid then you better believe we are expecting God’s mission to be financially covered. The provision will match the vision.
- Philippians 4:19 (ESV) 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
- The church isn’t a building, but it meets in one. We’re planning on a property to hold thousands of people, dorms, a school of ministry and much more. Read more here: https://burton.tv/2010/08/20/you-are-not-the-church-the-scattering-movement-what-about-church-online/
- We’re going to annihilate the sheep stealing myth. At Revival Church we have open hands. We don’t own the sheep at Revival Church and we have no patience for any controlling doctrine that teaches otherwise. While we do encourage people to a high level of honor and commitment, we also honor them and understand that God may lead them to participate in other churches and ministries. We have an open recruitment policy here as well. Any pastor can come into Revival Church and attempt to recruit anybody on my staff or team without any guilt or fear. You can read more here: https://burton.tv/2011/09/06/church-competition-and-the-sheep-stealingtransfer-growth-myth/
- Revival is coming to Detroit. With all of the phenomenal and hungry revivalists in Detroit, and with the prayer movement and other strategies expanding all over the region, the time is now to experience revival. However, we also believe that revival will probably be hosted in one primary location. We are preparing for that location to be Revival Church. But, we’re also pretty smart and we realize that the chances are high that it will land in another church. The call will be to travel, to lead the people out, to go where the fire is. So, in that case, we will be highly invested there in addition to developing the supporting ministry of Revival Church.
- Exodus 13:21 (ESV) 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
- We have names and faces. We fully embrace the heart of the nameless, faceless movement. Extreme humility is mandatory. However, that movement has in some places adopted a strange false-unity ideology. Leaders are being renounced in favor of equality in function. This just isn’t biblical. We expect to have so many humble, surrendered people who embrace the cross of Christ that they will be promoted by God to have influence over millions of desperate people. We can’t hide. We can’t blend in. We can’t espouse false humility. There are prophetic messengers arising and the world will know who they are and they will fall in love with Jesus who they carry.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Tomorrow at Revival Church : JD King and a fiery encounter with Jesus
JD King has extreme revival wisdom and carries an anointing for healing and fire!
He will be ministering in the spirit of revival tomorrow (Sunday) at 6pm at Revival Church.
Come expectant and bring every friend you can find.
Here’s some info about JD King:
J.D. King, International Director of World Revival Network says, “Learning what revival looked like historically can help us understand how we should respond when God comes down in our own lives today.”
King is an expert when it comes to revival. Son-in-law to Pastor Steve Gray, he was a participant in the Smithton Outpouring when the “lightnings of God” first struck Pastor Steve and spread to the whole congregation. Plus, he’s been with revival during the transition to Kansas City in 2000 and the fresh upsurge of May 2, 2008 at World Revival Church.
Additionally, he’s visited most of the major historic sites of revival including Wales and the Hebrides Islands, with opportunities to interview people who were a part of these past moves of God. King’s library includes over 1,000 volumes on revival and he has himself written two books on revival.
J.D. King heads up World Revival Network of Ministries.
Here’s an article by JD King:
Conspiracy Against the Supernatural
While the Spirit of God has moved powerfully throughout history, there has been a tendency to downplay the supernatural. Movements birthed in revival, later "sanitize" their histories; leaving out phenomena and anything unusual.
This is certainly reflected in the histories of Baptists, Methodists and the Disciples of Christ. Many early American churches experienced great stirrings of revival during the period of frontier expansion. For example, an early campmeeting involving Methodists and Presbyterians was depicted as follows:
"…praying, singing, exhorting, and preaching were kept up day and night. Physical expressions of the excitement were numerous and sometimes took bizarre forms…The most common physical experience was ‘falling'…hundreds displayed convulsive physical contortions which were known as ‘the jerks.' Frequently those who came to remonstrate or ridicule were themselves sudden victims. Barking, running, jumping, and trances were common." (Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, IV Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970, p. 193.)
Now, what did a modern Evangelical historian have to say about his own spiritual forefathers? With a detached condescension he wrote, "The roughness of frontier life, its absence of social controls, and the scarcity of social contacts for those living in isolated cabins, made such people susceptible to uncontrolled displays when they found themselves in the company of large numbers." (The Return of the Spirit: The Second Great Awakening; Christian History Magazine; July 1, 1989) As usual, the Spirit's work was discounted with patronizing disbelief. Many assume a natural or sociological explanation for things which could just as easily be understood in supernatural terms.
This unbelieving outlook is hardly new. A few years ago Jack Deere told about the cover-up of a forerunner to John Knox and the Scottish Presbyterians. Deere first read about George Wishardt in an Eighteenth Century book he found in a used book store. Describing Wishart, the writer of this book declared, "He possessed the Spirit of Prophecy in an extraordinary degree."
Later Deere uncovered a newer edition of "Scots Worthies" and was astounded that the account of Wishart had been changed. The revised edition now affirmed the following, "He possessed an extraordinary degree of sagacious foresight." While the original edition affirmed the supernatural, the later edition attributed Wishart's insight to natural wisdom. It seems another leader is busy sanitizing the annals of history; causing others to overlook the supernatural activity of God.
The church needs to reconsider the constraints that have been put on our understanding of miracles and revival phenomena. What has happened in the past continues to this day. We must drive out the conspiracy against the supernatural.
Info about TheCall Detroit 11.11.11 : Video, social links, prayer and fasting info
Gather every person you know and head to Detroit for this history making event—TheCall Detroit 11.11.11!
I am already craving finding a corner high up in Ford Field to just hit my face and encounter God as some key national and local leaders lead us into the fire! There is a yearning for an outpouring of God’s Spirit—and Detroit is an epicenter of a soon coming shock from Heaven that will be felt around the world.
This once in a lifetime event should draw every pastor, leader, Christian and hungry person in the Detroit region—and beyond.
Check out some info here and spread the word!
The following links will make it easy to share about TheCall Detroit in your emails, on Facebook, LinkedIn and other Social channels.
- Detroit Video Trailer with Lou Engle "Come to Ford Field!" Here is the promo video link for the extended version of the invitation. Just copy and paste this in your browser, email or links. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n335NYm8N_k&feature=youtu.be
- To print out promotional materials or share on our websites this page has all the code from TheCall Detroit http://thecall.com/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000104419
- "Join us in daily prayer on 8 Mile in Detroit." Listen and share a new Detroit Video of Lou speaking on the significance of this place http://youtu.be/zdavmQkQlSo
- Our latest video message from Lou Engle at Ford Field can be found at this link (Remember, just click on any link to take you to the videos then copy those same links to share with your friends) http://youtu.be/tzbrgoy01y4
- We are in a 40 day fast for TheCall. It is not to late to join in. For more information go to thecall.com/40dayfast
- So we can plan please make sure you register for the event at this link Thecall.com.
- We have been informed that the first 100 buses coming to Ford Field in Detroit will have have free parking for TheCall gathering so get there early to secure a spot
- You can direct other questions you may have on TheCall to TheCall.com and we will have someone address them.
Smithton Outpouring Event Sunday at Revival Church with JD King
THIS SUNDAY JD King from World Revival Church of Smithton Outpouring fame will be fanning the flames at Revival Church!
I’m going to include an article in a moment that will cause you to come alive.
JD King is a great friend and a brilliant revival mind. He just got back from Bethel and is feeling something very real and powerful is going to land at Revival Church Sunday.
You will glean so much from him as he shares key revival principles. I just got off the phone with him and he casually shared a few things that are right on:
- Revival almost always starts with a small flicker. JD believes many small flames of revival have ignited in churches and cities all over the world, but there weren’t people interested in stewarding it. That resulted in fizzle after fizzle as the flames went out. Azusa, Smithton and other revivals started with small groups of people who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Evan Roberts was turned down by his pastor the opportunity to preach so he burned in front of 6 youth for three hours—and they finally caught the fire and the rest is history!
- Be prepared for the revival to ignite in a single hot spot in a city, as opposed to expecting it to uniformly and spontaneously launch in a wider area. Stewarding revival is a massive undertaking, and concentrated and organized local leadership will be a strength as the masses converge.
- Signs and wonders are extremely important, but developing a culture of revival oriented leadership is at least as important. Gathering and equipping a leadership team is needed to withstand the weight of a massive outpouring.
Come at 5pm for a critical and exciting time of prophetic intercession and then at 6pm we will start the night full of faith for healings and miracles!
Here’s the article on the Smithton Outpouring:
SMITHTON, Mo. (ABP)–It's Saturday night at Smithton Community Church, and the outpouring service is starting to sizzle. The floor shudders from the impact of worshipers leaping in unison as they sing along with a loudly electrified praise band.
At a signal to pray, hundreds of hands shoot up like football referees signaling a touchdown. During corporate prayer, the congregation pulses with an unintelligible drone of voices.
Through body-wracking spasms, breaking voices and tears, worshipers testify from the stage and the floor. They tell of deliverance from alcohol, from bitterness, from suicide, from skepticism.
Pastor Steve Gray shouts a scorching sermon on the need to bind the “strong man,” Satan. Too many churches are preaching a selfish, self-centered, self-esteem gospel, Gray says. “Satan loves a selfish place, because he's selfish!”
Suicides, drugs and divorces didn't used to happen among church people, Gray remarks. “What's out there has gotten in here.”
Gray wonders: Could the “Smithton Outpouring” be happening because the church of this day can't last much longer? He points out that in Bible times, the Jews were the people of God. Today, Christians are the people of God. Then and now, something happened; something went wrong.
“Jesus is back on the scene again, and he's going after Satan like he did before! God wants to bring the kingdom into our midst. He's gonna free some people!” Dozens of visitors stream forward near the end of the four-hour service. One member gets in a visitor's face to pray with fist-shaking fury; another stands behind to catch him when he collapses backward. Someone else drapes a blanket over the prostrate form.
One of those “slain” in the Holy Spirit rises after a short time and returns to her place near the wall. Asked to describe her experience, she simply smiles and replies, “I was with God.”
Three years ago, a revival broke out in Smithton. As a result, this Central Missouri community–population 532–has drawn tens of thousands of visitors from across the United States and from other nations. The “Smithton Outpouring” has been described in magazines and on television nationwide. People have used words like “Pentecostal,” “charismatic” and “full gospel” to describe the worship service, Gray said. “If anything sets Smithton Community Church apart, it's that we're believing that the kingdom of God is happening now.”
Kathy Gray admits the worship style at the non-denominational church can be shocking to those who aren't familiar with it. But she and her husband contend that practices such as speaking in tongues and being “slain in the Spirit” are innocent and harmless.
This is especially true, they say, when you compare them to other activities seen in many churches–gossip, manipulation, power struggles, love of money. No one's afraid of those, the Grays contend. Before people react negatively to charismatic practices, Steve Gray suggested, they should ask themselves why they're not reacting similarly to backbiting, pride and other things the Bible clearly says to avoid. People from nearly all denominations have come to Smithton, Gray noted. “There is a group within them whose hearts are crying out for more.”
A large part of this church's ministry is to Christian believers who haven't gotten the help they feel they need in their own churches.
Gail Collins, who was raised a Southern Baptist, started attending the Smithton church 10 years ago. She remembers well the day in 1996 when revival broke out.
“When the power of God came in, I got set free from a lot of those things I couldn't change,” Collins said. Her love for God deepened. “He enlarged my heart and gave me a strong desire to be a complete servant.” The power of the Holy Spirit isn't new, Gray said, but had been lost. “We're regaining what was lost through tradition, wrong ideas, wrong thinking. That's why it's available, because it was never supposed to go.” Worship services in churches often represent what happened to someone long ago, he noted. It was fresh then; it's stale now.
Just as the beaten man in the story of the Good Samaritan did not get help from the Levite or the priest, Gray said, people today are not getting help from churches. “They're being told they are found, but they can't find God. So they come here to this unlikely place that doesn't fit the story.”
Gold dust, wonders, miracles, signs and revival in the cities of the Earth
This is a remarkable video of a manifestation of gold dust at Bethel Church’s Open Heavens Conference!
Church it’s time to contend for a culture of supernatural life that’s filled with wonder!
Check out this video of a visible cloud of gold during a fire tunnel at Bethel Church’s Open Heavens Conference in Redding, California. It was posted by their Youth Pastor, Tom Crandall.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2310539496490&mid=504592
MARK 16:17-18 REPENTANCE MOVEMENT
Mark 16:17-18 (ESV) 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Repentance? I believe so. We have done a great job of talking about the Kingdom, but have been satisfied with a lack of demonstrating the Kingdom. There must be a movement of repentance in the church for this reality. God must grip our hearts!
As Christians, we have no option to remain removed from a supernatural life of signs, wonders and miracles. We are mandated to experience God in this fashion as a normal part of our ministry.
It’s sadly rare to find a church that highlights a culture of miracles, but that is going to change. If we want revival, it must.
Bizarre and monumental phenomenon’s are coming to the church, and I am convinced that Detroit will be one of the forerunner cities. The glory cloud of God will be visible in this city!
I was amazed several times over two specific weekends when many people noticed a visible glory cloud at Revival Church. Then, I found out that it was also at Pastor Joe Sazyc’s church in Dearborn Heights.
Get ready church for a reformation of understanding of what it is to know God, to encounter him and what it is to go to church! The masses are coming and they aren’t coming for one of our nice church services! They won’t settle for anything less than the tangible, weighty glory of God! I won’t either!
Five unusual marks of the coming church
As we contend for revival, we must be keenly aware that tomorrow’s church will be, well, unusual.
Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. People don’t want to go to church in America. Of course, there are many exceptions, but the general consensus is that the appeal of church is limited. The unsaved refuse to trade one man made system for another. I believe the great harvest is waiting for the great outpouring of otherworldly fire. When revival hits—I mean really hits—the definition of church today will be replaced by something barely capable of being put into human language. Right now, people are starving for a brand new realm of supernatural shock and awe, and the church that satisfied mom and dad won’t suffice. I refuse to be insane by trying to build a church based on an old paradigm. The times are urgent and the Earth needs people who have the guts to break the mold, tear down religious altars and invite our fearful and glorious God to take over.FIVE MARKS OF THE COMING CHURCH
ONE. It will stand out like a sore thumb against the prevailing church landscape. People will talk and many will mock. Do you recall the scene in Acts chapter 2? It was religious life as usual, and God violated what was normal with something that couldn’t be denied.Acts 2:5-6 (ESV) 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. Acts 2:12-13 (ESV) 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”The coming church will offensively violate standard church protocols while at the same time re-establishing and affirming pure, biblical standards. I heard it said that the greatest threat to the Word of God is the traditions of man. They make the Word of God of no effect! Wow! That’s scary power!
Mark 7:5-8 (ESV) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:13 (ESV) 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”I understand this point can be troublesome. The truth is that there is a lot of amazing things going on in churches today. But, if we don’t understand that where we are now is the greatest threat to where we must go, we’ll live church life as usual while traditions slowly overwhelm the plans of God for fresh fire. Pastors and leaders must prepare the body now for the assault against the prevailing religious system that will threaten everything from personal security, financial stability and our reputations. TWO. Gideons will start arising all over the Earth. This is a very important point to understand. You may have noticed that there’s a very strong and extremely unbiblical movement away from governmental authority. I agree that we are moving away from self-serving, hedonistic leaders. We’re leaving Pharaoh and his selfish projects of personal gain. What’s coming are bold leaders who have embraced a life of surrender up to and including martyrdom. These leaders will have dramatic encounters with God and will be chosen to lead with authority that will surprise everybody. These prophetic juggernauts will focus on three key activities:
a. Tearing down religious altars regardless of how close to home those altars have been built Judges 6:28-29 (ESV) 28 When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. 29 And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” b. Gathering and positioning an army Judges 7:7 (ESV) 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” c. Taking cities via unusual, Holy Spirit methods that result in restored prosperity and taking ground for God’s people Judges 7:22 (ESV) 22 When they blew the 300 trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.Accusation flew as others were indignant that Gideon seemed to self-appoint himself as leader and didn’t include them in the process.
Judges 8:1 (ESV) 1 Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.Matthew Henry said regarding this verse: Those who will not attempt or venture any thing in the cause of God, will be the most ready to censure and quarrel with such as are of a more zealous and enterprising spirit. THREE. A very heavy spirit of prophecy will be constant. This will be one of the most critical changes that’s coming to the church. I do believe the church will find itself in such a weighty place that the thought of not embracing the extreme prophetic manifestation of the Holy Spirit won’t be an option. What is coming to the church will crush it if we don’t function fully in all consuming spiritual power.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 (ESV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies,The thought of having a service where you crave the presence of God, but limit prophecy is biblically nonsensical. First, we see that quenching the Spirit and despising prophecies are linked. You do one, the other happens. Additionally, if God’s presence is in a place (his manifest presence), then prophecy is in the place. Jesus is always communicating. He is the Word. He is Rhema. He is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10 (ESV) 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.If you want God’s presence, it’s a package deal. Prophecy is there too. Leaders of the coming church will embrace the biblical mandate for everybody to seek after the gift of prophecy. This means, they have a responsibility to train and release people into that gifting. Prophetic activation will be a constant in these churches.
1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV) 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.FOUR. Signs, wonders and miracles will be happening all over the place, all the time. Continually throughout the New Testament we see salvation and healing linked. The apostles went everywhere healing the sick and preaching the Kingdom. In fact, I believe mass repentance will start to hit pastors and leaders for having ministries that are void of miracles. We’ll see a Mark 16:17,18 repentance movement that will result in healings and wonders that will draw the attention of the world. The secular media will be following these miracle movements and will market revival to the nations much like the newspapers did for the Azusa revival.
Mark 16:17-18 (ESV) 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Kris Vallotton said, “If we can't do any more than mere men, then let us not tell others we are part of the church of a living God.”It’s time to go after Jesus, to grab the hem of his garment and to receive the healing impartation that will mark the coming church with power. FIVE. The church will drive culture instead of being driven by culture. The 24/7 church is coming and it will violate the prevailing culture of busyness and distraction. Gone will be the days of formatting our churches to fit within the schedules and expectations of society. The seeker movement will fade away and the urgent call to the wall will overpower even the most demanding of personal and social pressures.
Acts 17:6 (ESV) 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, ESV Study Bible: These hostile opponents spoke better than they knew, for the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire was the beginning of a movement that would change the course of history forever.The coming church will be marked by its boldness and culture will be threatened for the good.
There will be many more marks that will distinguish the coming church, and we must be ready for the extreme change that’s coming. Church as we know it is just about over.
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Barbara Yoder: Important opportunity for Revival Church to raise $1000 to sow into TheCall Detroit on 11/11/11
Barbara Yoder shared a key message to the churches of Michigan to sow $1000 into TheCall Detroit on 11/11/11
I’m so blessed at the heart of giving at Revival Church!
Amy and I are continually excited about the culture of faith here that will end up impacting the economy and history of revival in Detroit!
Barbara Yoder is calling for 1000 churches to sow $1000 into TheCall which will be held at Ford Field in Detroit on 11/11/11.
This resonates in my spirit, and I want to boldly invite you to give today toward this life altering event.
You can give online at www.detroitrevivalchurch.com/donate.
Be sure to LEAVE A COMMENT to indicate you are sowing toward TheCall. Everything that is raised with that comment will go toward TheCall.
If we raise more than $1000, the excess will be donated there as well.
Our heart is for the city church of Detroit to explode! Revival is coming and as we invest in the process we are sure to experience blessings beyond our wildest imaginations!
Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
