The Church
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.
Apostolic church planting and regional impact in Detroit and the cities of the Earth
Revival is coming to the Detroit region through focused apostolic teams of burning ones.
In Acts 2, the revival that launched the church was released through an apostolic team of burning ones. People who had come out of an encounter with God that included fire dropping from Heaven onto each of them.
In Detroit, there are many of these types of teams throughout the region. God has worked on establishing them, and they will soon be surprised as fire consumes them, and prophetic boldness explodes out of them as they impart the fire of revival into to Detroit.
I am going to include an article by Bill Click that I received today that’s quite powerful. He talks about the difference between church planting teams and apostolic teams.
When we launched Revolution Church in Manitou Springs, Colorado we knew we weren’t simply planting a church. We were called very clearly to serve revival and Kingdom advance on a city level.
Ed Silvoso said: Pastors, you are called to a vision for the entire city and its workers.
Floyd McClung said: Apostolic teams are focused. They are not satisfied with just over-seeing the affairs of a local church!
We knew this was true in Manitou Springs. The goal was taking dominion, pushing back the darkness and calibrating with God’s plans regionally.
I am confident that one day we will the entire city of Manitou Springs become a missions base! From border to border we’ll see people engaging in Kingdom activity in homes, businesses, churches, etc. For example, there is a railway that takes people from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak. That will become a Kingdom property as we daily take intercessors up to the top of America’s mountain to pray. There’s also a commercial cave system in Manitou Springs. We will see the caves full of worshipers and others who are going deep in God. I see a continual fire burning there, and it will be extremely easy for people to find healing and life. A true open heaven will hover over that city.
Of course, I see similar realities coming to pass in Detroit and in other cities around the world.
Here’s the article by Bill Click:
NEW APOSTOLIC PURPOSE
Part 1
Bill Click
THERE ARE CHURCH PLANTING TEAMS, THEN THERE ARE APOSTOLIC TEAMS
The purpose of Christ’s coming, crucifixion and resurrection was so mankind could be restored to God’s original purpose (Gen.2:7). The Father originally designed man for fellowship with Him and growth in stewardship of His resources (Gen.3:8; Dt.8:18). We see in Genesis, that when God “breathed” into Adam, what was originally received became polluted because he willfully disobeyed the Word of God (Gen.3:6). At that time, the enemy, Eve, and Adam received distinct judgment for their acts. And since, all mankind has been born in sin and dies (1Cor.15:22; Heb.9:27). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Father’s only way to restore man. This, only through the reconciliation of the cross (Jn.14:6; Col.1:20). A restored people will be those who function in the original intention of the Lord for His church (Eph.3:9-12). And that original intention as seen in Acts featured apostolic teams and ministries who were also fully prophetic in their function and authority (Acts 13:1-4; 14:14).
There is a difference between an apostolic team and what we have commonly come to know as a church planting team. First and foremost, an apostolic team will function in God’s original intention to restore people in fullness to the Father through Christ, while a church planting team will be rooted in establishing a group and/or place for worshipping God, fellowship, and spiritual growth. An apostolic team will be anchored in divine revelation in its identity, function and direction (Acts 13:2; 13:1; 13:4). A church planting team may experience divine revelation, but may be oriented more toward demographics, research, experience, and methods.
An apostolic team will be put together by the Holy Spirit. A church planting team may be assembled from those who are willing and available to work toward such an effort. An apostolic team will function together in a way that complements and builds up each other and multiplies the divine authority to dismantle strongholds and bring people into the Kingdom of God (2Cor.10:1-8). A church planting team may not be focused on giftedness, spiritual authority, or relational cohesion, but rather on the task that demographics, research and methodology lead them to conclude is to be done.
An apostolic team will be directed by the Spirit of the Lord in its geographical or spherical assignment. They may not only find themselves moving into new locales or realms, but also non traditional or parachurch endeavors; those which minister to the “sphere” by using their ministry and spiritual gifts “measure” in more evangelistic ways (Acts 16:6-10; 2Cor.10:8-18). A church planting team might aim at specific social strata also, but will be careful to promote and build its persona as a “church” in the eyes of those it encounters. And it may be intentionally aimed at population centers, places of recent growth, or even the locale of those who are putting together their efforts for the work itself.
“SENT” & “SET” WITH SPHERE’S AS CALLED, PREPARED & COMMISSIONED
Apostolic teams and ministries which have received Christ’s strategy and been made ready will be “sent” and “set” with a specific “measure” to display and establish the Lord’s reconciliation, life, authority, and influence to that “sphere” (Ro.10:15; 1Cor.12:28; 2Cor.10:13). Although influencing social strata and possibly even visibly impacting the affairs of nations, this authority is neither social in origin nor politically intended. Instead, this reign is Spiritual, living in the hearts of individuals and groups submitted to the Lord, having been received and released through the Supernatural Grace of Christ. Because it results from a revelation of “the mystery,” the presence of the Kingdom of God is loosed in the lives of people (Eph.3:3-5; Ro.14:17; Lk.17:20-21).
Apostolic teams are used by God to fully establish Christ’s witness and presence within these “spheres,” restoring them to the degree people can receive what the Lord is offering. This is done as they continually preach and teach the Gospel of the Kingdom, willingly releasing the specific anointing they have been equipped with (Mt.10:8). Apostles do this by simply loosing the Spirit’s flow of the Word of God to unite people with Christ and each other (Ro.8:14; 10:16). Demolishing the demonic strongholds which have kept people bound, Apostles then orchestrate the body’s function, and bring “order” within that dimension (Lk.10:18-20; 2Cor.10:3-5; Tit.1:4ff). They plant their DNA of Christ deep within the soil of their “set” influence, in order to begin a process of rooting, growth, maturity and eventually, reproduction (1Cor.12:28; Mk.4:31-32).
Our tendency today is to intentionally draw people and their resources into activities which build our identity through celebratory gatherings of specific themes. But a true apostolic team’s strategy does not only set itself as the focal point of purpose and activity, but will instead spread divine refreshing, renewal, restoration and reformation beyond “the four-walls.” And over time, this “seed” will permeate every nook and cranny of the specific “sphere” (Ac.13:49, 14-52). The hallmark of truly commissioned apostolic teams will be the permeation of an influence, an audience, or geography with the uniqueness of the Lord through them. This will be how Apostles and their teams know they have persevered in any unique and distinctive apostolic strategy they receive and release.
In the New Testament we see this described by Jesus. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, the man “threw” the seed into the garden of his sphere and it became a tree which created a habitation for the “birds of the air” (Lk.13:18-19 NASB). Historically, the early church interpreted the “birds of the air” to be those outside Christ. So we can see from this picture how an apostolic team is used to expand the presence of the Kingdom of God. When the anointing residing within a truly commissioned Apostle is >thrown= into the Christ-intended “sphere” of influence, it is planted deeply enough to be covered by the soil. It then begins to germinate in order to take root and break through above the surface: sprouting, blooming, and blossoming into maturity, harvest, and reproduction.
There is much need for reproducing apostolic authority, team work and ministries. But Apostles must “first” seed the garden they’ve been “sent” to and “set” over before they can ever begin to train and release others to do the same (1Cor.12:28; Ro.10:15). As they sow the Word of Christ’s foundation, they open the way for those given to them not only to be gathered, but also identified and processed into their divinely designed purpose and effectiveness as well (Jn.17:9-26). Such purpose and effectiveness always stays with restoring God’s original purpose, fellowship with Him, and growth in stewardship of His resources (Dt.8:18; 3Jn.2). It is as that foundational Word is released that the seed finds the good ground which produces and remains productive (Jn.15:16).
APOSTLESHIP IS NOT THE RESULT OF CONSENSUS
Apostles and their teams do not ask permission to operate in their function of restoring God’s original purpose. They are neither dependant upon a willing audience, nor at first make the condition of their ministry that of being received. Instead, they arrive at the ground of divine placement and begin to propel the seed forward by God’s direction and with the energy of His Right Hand, Jesus Christ (Psa.89:13; 98:1; 110:1-7). And through that powerful release the seed goes deep and the soil covers and nourishes it until it comes forth and produces, providing rest and habitation for those without a place to spiritually nestle and mature (Jn.12:24-26; Php.3:12-16; Heb.5:11-14).
Christ became our nourishment (Jn.6:31-51). He is the “firstborn among many brethren,” meaning that His restoring work transforms us that we become like Him (Ro.8:29). We also, then, are to become nourishment to others. As a result of the apostolic team’s obedience, those ministered to receive the call to be transformed in Spirit, from a lump of meal into nourishing bread (Lk.13:20-21). In time, the bread is ready to be served. Having become readied for use in transforming others, the team is then given a specific “measure” (“3 pecks”) to relationally leaven others throughout the Apostle’s “sphere.” The leavening of others is the result. The loaf which emerges is the life giving presence of the Kingdom not only extended, but increased and even multiplied (2Cor.9:10; Heb.6:14).
Today, we see pressures of all types when it comes to all aspects of our lives with God (Jn.16:33) When yielded to, these can cause us to conclude that any growth from planting or reproduction in ministry must take place for our survival and security instead of for the eternal purposes of God in Christ (Eph.3:9-12). God’s growth in us and reproduction through us are the supernatural results of knowing the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, church is not called to make bread in order to survive. It’s that having become true bread, the result is the making of the same (Lk.6:43). The ongoing presence of those with true leaven activates the process in which lives can be changed and God-ordained potentials can be realized. This is the role of the Apostle and the apostolic team.
Those starving do not even know what they are hungry for until they smell the aroma of what God has for them (2Cor.2:14-16). By the Lord’s grace through the Apostle and apostolic team, those who were once starving become food to those who have yet to taste that which satisfies (Psa.91:16; Pro.13:25; Jn.6:35). And because those who are serving bread are not doing it for payment or reward, there’s no “catch” (2Cor.2:17; Isa.45:11-14). As a result of the Apostle’s obedience to “throw,” there is not just “seed” for the birds who gather, but a tree for them to gather and nestle in as well. And as the church becomes activated as a Divine Bakery, bread for those who flock to the garden is found all over the ground: in relationships, gifts, accompaniments, equipping–all provided by the Spirit through the Apostle’s obedience to the strategy given by Christ.
Simply put, truly commissioned Apostles can’t help but reproduce after themselves as they live life. They produce ones who become living epistles (2Cor.3:3). We see this happening again and again in Acts. But as intentional as it is done by the Lord, it can often seem to occur inadvertently and unintentionally by those participating (Acts 16:12-15). Pentecost, the arrest of Peter and John, the fate of Ananias and Sapphira, even the choosing and deployment of the Seven: none of these were intentional to apostolic extension. But all these resulted in multiplications of people, expanded geographical outreach, and explosions of the presence of the Kingdom of God in the hearts of mankind (Ac.2:41-47; 4:23-35; 5:12-16; 6:6-8).
Today just as in the book of Acts, Apostles are charged to take the high ground of being who Christ has called them by receiving and releasing the revelations He gives. At times, there are many Apostles within a territory and often there are even many strategies in the process of being received and birthed within the same Apostle as well. There should be multiple strategies being received, released, and unfolded within the same territory or “sphere” today. Ultimately, the purpose for the eventual reach of every strategy of advance is the whole earth (Mt.28:18-20; Ac.1:8).
Apostles focus specifically, however, andB even if they do notB are limited to those “recipes” on the “cutting board” of God’s “now” in order to be effective and remain protected (Ac.16:6-10; Heb.11:1). Faithfulness to the purposes of Christ’s strategy is a condition for continuing in authority and fruitfulness. This can be seen in the commissions recorded by Matthew and Luke (Mt.28:16-20; Ac.1:4-8). It is by continued faithfulness to what Christ reveals that Apostles and their teams become and remain effective. Sometimes their impact is highly visible, other times not so much, and at times not outwardly verifiable at all, but leaven accomplishes its purpose (Lk.13:20-21; Isa.55:8-13). Through Christ there will be reproducers who reproduce reproducers that continue reproducing (Mt.28:19; Ac.1:8).
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RIVER OF POWER MINISTRIES
[email protected] www.riverofpower.org
Apostle Bill Click & Prophet Nancy Click are Ordained with: Christian International Apostolic Network, Dr. Bill Hamon, Bishop
RIVER OF POWER MINISTRIES is a continually developing matrix of foundational callings and anointings positioning themselves under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ as released through Apostle Bill Click. To inquire further about a covering or aligning relationship with "RPM" write postal mail to address above or Email us at [email protected]
A full night of worship with Aaron Crider AND personal ministry and impartation
We’ll experience God through powerful worship all night long in a special event with Aaron Crider!
Sunday at 6pm come ready to love Jesus with deep passion!
Aaron Crider and our own amazing Revival Church worship team will be leading the entire night along with interjections of personal ministry, prophetic exhortations and explosions of life!
Also, have you ventured onto the Revival Church website lately?
There a lot of new info including a new “Our Friends” section that includes info about our connections and also comments from friends such as Brian Simmons, JD King and many others!
Also, check out some of the ministries we love like Bethel, IHOP, The Ramp and others!
Take some time to experience The Ramp at www.theramp.org. We see a similarly structured ministry being established right here in Detroit. theLab is moving ahead in that huge, fiery vision! Visit www.revivallab.com for info!
Of course, check out the articles, videos and loads more at www.detroitrevivalchurch.com!
From my new book : The Coming Church : Everything is threatened
Every church, every pastor and every Christian will tremble as God invades the landscape of the church.
I started writing the book and I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at what’s coming.
Let me know what you think!
~ One ~
The Encounter
Spiritual encounters, whether they are visions, dreams or visitations can go a long way in preparing individuals, groups, and even nations for the otherworldly, dramatic and critical shifts that God is setting into motion. Of course, we know in scripture that spiritual things must be discerned spiritually, and it’s important to understand clearly what’s being communicated. We also know that all dreams, for example, are not necessarily spiritual dreams. That must be discerned. I challenge you to stay up until 3 AM and then eat a bucket of hot wings, a can of Mountain Dew and a half a gallon of ice cream and see what kind of crazy images dance around in your head when you finally fall asleep. Experiences like that won’t shake nations. However, the encounter I had absolutely must.
I had a vision of the soon coming church. For me, a spiritual revelation, a message delivered directly by the Creator of the world, is usually very easy to discern. It’s rare that I have to go to someone seeking out an interpretation. The scene and the message are almost always extremely vivid and revealing. I immediately understand what the players and the atmosphere and the story line are attempting to communicate to me.
This particular encounter was no different – in fact, it was so striking, fearful, engulfing and overpowering that the imagery and message will keep me trembling in my spirit forever.
In order to appreciate the magnitude of the message that was communicated to me in the vision, it will be helpful to understand the context. If you can imagine, at least to an incredibly small degree, the picture of the church that God himself sees, it shouldn’t be a stretch to realize the picture of the church that we see on the Earth clearly cannot match up. Meaning, when God drew up the glorious church leading up to its launch in the book of Acts, that diagram that was before him looks little like the church we see today. God’s church looks little like the church we have come to know.
Acts 2:1-3 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
Do me a favor and read that passage in Acts chapter 2 one more time. I want those three verses to dive into your spirit and shake you up. When God started diagramming the church, this is what he envisioned — this is where he started. When you compare this passage of Scripture with descriptions of the modern-day church as we know it, it seems like were comparing apples and oranges.
I’d like to ask you to read the passage one more time. As I’m writing this, I feel the Spirit of the Lord starting to burn in my inner man. Let me pray for you right now just before you read it again:
Mighty God, I pray the burnings of your Spirit would be transmitted into your friends heart. Give them a glimpse into the supernatural yet strikingly real realm of the church. Give them the capacity to release old paradigms, structures, traditions, mindsets and cultures as they come alive to the reality of the church as you see it. Amen.
Okay, go ahead and read the passage in Acts chapter 2 one more time.
Acts 2:1-3 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
Is it becoming a little bit easier to understand just what the church should look like? You see, as God designed and then launched the church, it was literally blowing and burning and every one of them in that upper room experienced it. As we begin to embrace the truth that passages like this are not science fiction, and that they communicate actual phenomenons that are to be normal for us as Believers, it will become easier to leave behind what we know and press toward the soon coming church. We will suddenly find ourselves so deeply dissatisfied that any thought of maintenance becomes quite insane.
Now, keep in mind that this fiery reality was communicated to us by Jesus, by the Word. This passage is the Word of God, not simply a descriptive, historical report. So, God’s plan is for the church to be a supernatural raging furnace of Holy Spirit activity.
I have heard it said that the only thing more powerful than the Word of God is tradition. The traditions of man overpower the greatest power in existence — Jesus Christ himself. Do you feel the weight of that? Is it possible that we need to embrace the fear of the Lord again? The thought of allowing man-made concepts, structures or agendas to push aside and nullify God’s plans seems ridiculous. Yet it happens with stunning regularity every day all over the world.
Mark 7:13 …making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down…
Of course it’s true that the definition of the church cannot be limited to one perspective of one segment of the greater structure. It is certainly true, as is revealed later on in Acts chapter 2, that the healthy church will include wonderful fellowship, breaking of bread, powerful preaching, discipleship, evangelism, prayer and other critical activities. However, what we see in the church today is a lot of activity, even good activity, but usually without the tangible burning and blowing of God’s Spirit.
The Crater
If you take a look at the cover of this book, you will see a futilely poor attempt at visually communicating what I experienced in my vision. In the vision, I found myself in a dramatic, apocalyptic scene. Everything seemed to be colorless, or at best a variety of dark blues, grays and greens. The ominous clouds matched up with the dark and wild landscape all around me.
Directly in front of me was the focal point of the vision, a tremendously massive crater. I can’t begin to describe in human language the overwhelmingly weighty, urgent, and fearsome atmosphere that gripped me and demanded my complete attention. I was trembling as I looked at the edge of the crater in the distance. As I slowly walked toward the gigantic hole in the ground, I knew I could not approach it casually. The fear of the Lord surrounded me. I couldn’t imagine what type of alien invasion could have created an impression this deep in such solid ground. The force had to have been greater than anything my human mind could comprehend.
As I was analyzing the drama that I was experiencing, God revealed to me that the crater that I was drawing near to was the church. The church? My mind certainly couldn’t even begin to analyze what that meant, but my spirit was raging. My mind presumed I should be looking at a small, white church building with a steeple, but that was not at all what my eyes were seeing.
My spirit was provoked and alive, but I knew that those who were more logical than spiritual in their life experience would most probably resist what is just over the horizon.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Note, this doesn’t mean the unsaved, it means those who are naturally minded. That’s a lot of Christians. Here’s what Paul says next:
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
I continued to tremble as the increasingly intense, colorless atmosphere engulfed me, and as I ever so carefully, fearfully, yet with intense curiosity approached the edge of the church, the crater.
Again, I realized I couldn’t casually participate. This was a very clear message that I was receiving. The days of casually connecting in the church were over. The shaking and trembling rocked my whole being as I approached this invasion of Heaven into Earth.
Once at the edge, I was stunned and my senses were overwhelmed as I looked at what seemed to be alive. While everything else around me was gray scale, I saw vivid, bright and glowing hues of orange, yellow and red and a prism of colors in between. The bright, colorful, burning lava was living and active. It was moving, coursing throughout the crater. My trembling intensified.
Catherine Mullins and Brian Simmons at Revival Church Sunday
Catherine Mullins and Brian Simmons are special people to us at Revival Church—they carry the spirit of revival and will release that this Sunday, September 25, 2011!
Come early at 5pm for fiery pre-service prophetic prayer, and then at 6pm stay for a night to remember as we worship with Catherine Mullins and go deep with Brian Simmons.
Immediately after the service the prophecy room will be open for anybody and everybody who wants personal prophetic ministry.
There’s a lot going on at Revival Church including our new Culture Groups, theLab, Friday night prayer for Detroit and so much more! See you Sunday!
We meet at THE TABERNACLE: 14205 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088
CULTUREgroups at Revival Church : Connect with a family of people who love God and his plan for transformation
CULTUREgroups are coming to Revival Church! Pastor Tom Kearney is launching our first group: A Culture of Honor
CULTUREgroups are vibrant communities of people who endeavor to infuse society with the life and love of Jesus.
Transformed people who encounter God in the world can’t help but to transform the culture.
Our first CULTUREgroup is launching under the leadership of our great friend, leader and father Tom Kearney the first Wednesday of October, 2011. There will be food and fun and fellowship as they discuss and live out A Culture of Honor.
The groups will meet weekly in homes, coffee shops, on the streets and other places within the culture of our city.
Contact us at [email protected] for more info. Tom can’t wait to meet you!
Church competition and the sheep stealing/transfer growth myth
While potentially provocative, it’s important to discuss the issue of church competition as we progress toward revival.
It hits me very deeply, and it saddens me so much when I encounter a spirit of competition within the landscape of the church.
This issue is rampant and it has resulted in a weakened, compromised city church structure, which is extremely problematic as we prepare for revival.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV) 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
This passage is written with leaders in mind. It’s important to know how to behave in the household of God… and how not to behave.
Keep in mind, scripturally the church is identified by the larger city, by geography. It’s the Church at Ephesus, not the First Church of Jesus Christ and the Second Church of Jesus Christ and such and such Baptist church in the city of Ephesus. We don’t see the local church in the Bible, though God has and will move powerfully through local, smaller groups within the larger city Church. However, we have to understand that local churches are simply departments of a single city Church. Senior pastors are departmental leaders under the apostolic leadership of the city.
The call of leaders is to raise up a company of burning ministers of God with the expectation of seeing them released into world shaking endeavors. Some will be released into ministry in other cities, some will be released into other expressions of the church in their own city, while others will remain directly involved where they were trained.
But, everybody must be trained and released. The message to Timothy continues:
1 Timothy 4:14-15 (ESV) 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Everybody must be progressing.
prog·ress n. 1. Movement, as toward a goal; advance.
Everybody under my care at Revival Church must be moving! If someone is not able to progress, to move, to advance in their ministry due to nervous pastors, it is a serious violation of God’s instructions to the Church. As I said, movement may take people out of a local ministry and into the place they are called to advance into, and we as leaders must celebrate when that happens.
A spirit of Pharaoh within spiritual leaders will do everything possible to keep their people from leaving into their wilderness of encounter, into their destiny.
That unhealthy spirit of Pharaoh will use people to fulfill leader’s personal endeavors, and any thought of those people leaving will strike them with fear and anger. A divisive, controlling spirit is embraced while people who are meant to fulfill their destinies are required to continue making the bricks of a man-made Egypt.
SHEEP STEALING
I didn’t realize how much a simple statement would set someone free.
A new friend had been through a troubling situation at a church and her transition out was filled with unfortunate and unnecessary struggle and guilt.
She cautiously started to investigate Revival Church from her place of fear and pain. We were discussing our pursuit as a church of freedom in Detroit one day, and I told her, “I don’t own you. I don’t own people here. As a pastor, my role is to serve you, not use you.”
That simple statement changed her life dramatically and caused her to breathe more easily.
I often tell the people who are pressing ahead with great commitment and focus at Revival Church that I, as their leader, have wide open hands. They aren’t my possession, they are my joy. Anybody from any church or ministry can, at any time, openly recruit any person at Revival Church. I have open hands. Sheep stealing cannot happen at Revival Church because it’s impossible to steal what someone freely gives.
Additionally, I know that my church is simply a department of the city church. I am not an island to myself. I’m not the supreme leader (yeah, doesn’t that sound ridiculous?). It would be silly for a local church’s single’s pastor to refuse to allow someone in his ministry to also commit to a weekly small group in the same local church. The same is true within the context of the city church. It makes no sense to presume people running with us at Revival Church wouldn’t also have opportunities to serve in other local ministries. My job, as 1 Tim 4:14-15 declares, is to lay hands on them and allow them to immerse themselves in their ministry, to practice, to progress, and I realize that much of that practice will take place in places other than Revival Church.
If a pastor in Detroit encourages one of my key leaders to serve on his leadership team, then I should celebrate! And I do! They aren’t stealing one of my sheep. We are on the same team, in the same church!
A youth pastor once confronted a friend of mine, who was a youth pastor at a thriving youth ministry in Texas. He very boldly, full of agitation, accused my friend of stealing his sheep because many of the youth from his church were also attending my buddy’s youth ministry.
My friend boldly replied, “How is it that you are accusing me of stealing sheep that simply wandered away from you? It doesn’t sound like you are feeding them what they need.”
Now, there is some merit (harsh but true) to that reply. However, another scenario might very well be more accurate. Is it possible that the other youth pastor was so successful at cultivating hunger for God that his disciples were making determined decisions to go after God with abandon—beyond the walls of their local church? Is it possible that their ‘wandering’ could be looked at as a sign of success on his part? I think that might be the case!
I have to tell you, I absolutely come alive when people under my care are moving about the city involving themselves in other churches and ministries. I love it! I want them to carry the fire of God into every place they can every single week!
TRANSFER GROWTH
We often hear that churches should not focus on transfer growth, on growing as people from other churches start connecting in the new church. Of course, I agree that we must see the church globally grow through evangelism, through conversion growth. The lost must be found. However, a common reason we hear some pastors renouncing transfer growth is because of insecurity and nervousness. They don’t want to lose anybody because that loss would equate to lost money, lost reputations, lost control, etc.
Again, we must expect people to participate in a variety of churches and ministries in the city Church. Since we are all in a single city Church, people moving from one local expression to another does not mean they are leaving one church for another. They are still in the city Church. If someone moves from the single’s ministry to a small group, there’s no transfer growth for the small group. The city Church has remained exactly the same size.
We must also admit that any single local church simply doesn’t have everything necessary to equip everybody. In fact, we’d be a much stronger city Church if we understood that. I am able to focus on the vision God has given me at Revival Church, and I don’t have the pressure to be an expert in everything. I can encourage people to connect in another church that’s strong where I am weak. And, if they feel they must spend the majority of their time there, under the leadership of a person who’s more able to give them what they need, then that is great! They can transfer from my local church to theirs, but the city Church has not lost…it has actually won. That person will now be more able to grow and progress, and the city church will be the better for it.
COMPETITION
This is where the gloves have to come off. It’s a serious violation of God to foster a spirit of competition.
I was with a well known apostle who has a huge heart for revival in Detroit. He has a lot of influence and a very successful church in another state. He felt led to make several trips to serve Detroit, and on this particular trip he was with a group of pastors. He said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to move here and start a church.” Everybody laughed.
While funny, I was disturbed by that exchange.
Why would the thought of this man opening another department in the growing city church cause other pastors to worry?
Of course, I know the answer. Because a successful man starting a new church would threaten their own kingdoms.
I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but I have to say that actually sickens me. People are going to Hell and pastors are worried about another ministry being successful? Sick.
Dr. James Emery White said: If you think a new church opening up in your area is a threat to your “mission field”, you need mission lessons.
Mark 3:24-25 (ESV) 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
Is there any wonder why there is no revival at a city level anywhere in the nation? The city Church is divided tragically. There is gossip about pastors and churches. There is fear and nervousness when other churches succeed. Hands are closed tight, not opened wide. The sheep are being used not served. People are jealous and divisive. This must end. Jesus is the head of the church and we have to finally let him govern freely.
3 John 1:9-10 (ESV) 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
This is a powerful verse. This is descriptive of situations that repeat every day in cities all over the world. Diotrephes gossiped and slandered and aggressively divided threatening people out of the church. Anybody that was a threat to his own preeminence was dealt with swiftly.
Contrary to this worldly, demonic approach to church leadership, look at how Jesus led:
Mark 9:35 (ESV) 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
That is leadership, and that is how we must approach other churches and ministries.
Every Friday night from 10pm-midnight our team travels to different church somewhere in the Detroit region. We pray in the Spirit and release blessing over that church, that pastor and their mission. I tell them that my prayer is for their church to grow much bigger than my own. I want them to receive greater offerings than we do. If they want some of my team to join their team, they are free to approach them about it.
Additionally, the call is for every pastor that we visit to join us every Friday night in another church and to pray the same things there. Can you imagine what would happen if every pastor in Detroit did that with us every Friday night? Revival would land nearly immediately.
One last point is critical: We cannot hold onto people so tightly that they are unable to respond to the greater, regional call. If something in the city church requires people from my team to move out of position in my local ministry and into position into the city ministry, I have to release them. A spirit of Pharaoh will keep people away from the greater calling. It will be common, as revival lands, for people in local ministries and churches to move out to serve regionally.
This will be a challenge for many. What do I do if my worship leader is tapped to serve the department that’s over my own? I let her go and trust God that he’ll ensure everything locally is covered. In fact, if it’s a city Church event, it would make more sense to shut down my ministry for the day or week and head out with everybody, in the spirit of Moses, into the greater, regional mission.
So, how about it church? It’s time to celebrate the growth of the city church, to release the people under our care, to burn with love and to lock arms with other Believers in the region—even if it means our own ministry shrinks. People with that type of heart will be exalted and rewarded as those with a heart after God’s own.
Photos : Why I love Revival Church
I’m overwhelmed! Here’s some of the reasons that I LOVE Revival Church!
Here’s why I love my church!
- People are consumed with hunger for God! I love you all!!!
- We had at least 50 people flood into the chapel AFTER last night’s service for personal prophetic ministry! I didn’t leave the building until 11:30pm! (By the way, after EVERY SUNDAY SERVICE we’ll have prophetic ministry available! Spread the word and get ready to be blessed!)
- theLab Internship is blowing my mind! God’s grace is fueling this school of fire!
- theLab graduation party was WILD! I cried and cried!
- People were sloshed on the asphalt outside of a church the other day until 1:30am…God visited and we are going for more!
- People have no patience for hype or exaggeration. They expect God to out do their wildest imaginations!
- The vision for revival in Detroit is insane! People are burning with passion for what is happening here!
- People are really, really, really getting dramatically healed and delivered. I can’t get enough of it!
- The way people roar in prayer before each service is crazy extreme!
- Every service just rocks me! They keep getting wilder and more powerful!
- We are encountering some amazing pastors every Friday night when we travel throughout the city and pray in their churches.
- My amazing friends…every one of you who are running this amazing race with me!
Very special event this Sunday : Brian Simmons and Julia Palermo at Revival Church
The roof should explode this Sunday night at Revival Church as revivalist and apostolic father Brian Simmons joins Julia Palermo!
FIRST: Have you applied for the rapidly approaching fall session of theLab Internship? Students and ministers are eligible for 50% off! Visit www.revivallab.com today!
Gather everybody you know who needs a very real and tangible touch from God and bring them to Revival Church THIS SUNDAY at 6pm!
We have been experiencing wave after wave of truly dramatic healings, so bring the sick and desperate!
Our great friends Brian Simmons and Julia Palermo will join myself and the spiritually electric Revival Church worship team for a night of fire!
Urgent message for the church : tonight at Revival Church
I am BURNING with the SHOCK and AWE of God’s plans for the church of Detroit.
DON’T miss the service TONIGHT at Revival Church! I’m burning, trembling.
Our worship leader just texted me: I know God is about to do something crazy tonight! You keep mentioning and army rising and I have been planning to do a new song tonight talking about an army rising up!
I’ll be releasing an URGENT message on the call for a CITY FIRE.
There is a massive transition from local church emphasis to a city church mandate that’s upon us now. We’re moving from an Egyptian model of ministry that keeps us secluded and contained into a dominion model of ministry that expects the wild fire of God to spread.
Steve Gray of World Revival Church in Kansas City said, “Too many people are waiting for a move of God that fits what already exists.”
In Egypt, Pharaoh was demanding that the people STAY while Moses was calling for God’s people to GO. Pharaoh’s kingdom was at risk if he lost people.
We as leaders have to be careful not operate in the spirit of Pharaoh by refusing to let God’s people go. If I find myself getting depressed or nervous when people leave my church, it’s an indicator that I’m influenced by this Egyptian strategy of kingdom building.
Brian Ming said in a song he wrote: God forgive us for building kingdoms of man on doctrines of demons in your name.
God forgive us!
An offensive shift is upon the church and an inappropriate response will result in continued bondage. While there is a lot of good happening within the context of the local church, it is by nature restrictive!
The call of Jesus was to GO while all too often the call of the local church is to STAY!
At Revival Church I have a policy that anybody from any church or ministry can freely recruit any person that’s connected to our ministry. We have open hands. We actually expect people to catch fire here and then impact other churches and cities!
Steve Gray- “Most churches are concerned with losing people and money. I wish they would be a little more concerned with losing the Holy Spirit.”
The fire we are going after cannot be contained at Revival Church. It will die out. It must spread! The carriers of that fire must GO!
For the corporate fire to spread, it must take on the nature of an out of control wild fire that follows the wind and seeks a never ending supply of fuel.
The new church will look nothing like we see now. We must learn how to live in the Spirit if we hope to embrace this uninvited yet deeply needed invasion from Heaven. Everything is at risk.
Come tonight. Get ready to get shocked. Get ready to come alive. Revival is drawing near. See you tonight. Prayer starts at 5pm and the fire starts spreading at 6pm!
We meet at THE TABERNACLE: 14205 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088