Posts Tagged ‘detroit’
A trembling and a searing burning is coming to the church of Detroit
First, check out our new website for Revival Church. We may be holding our Sunday evening services at the First United Methodist Church on Greater Mack, so stay tuned for updates. The website is www.detroitrevivalchurch.com.
"The coming moves of God will require nothing short of a revolution of our current structures, models and mindsets. Not an adjustment or an enhancement, but deep reform. The resulting fire and presence of the Holy Spirit will cause us to marvel and wonder why we ever resisted at all."- John Burton
I’m deeply provoked. While I understand the value of due process, something deep within can’t shake the prophetic cry for sudden reformation in our churches.
God zealously loves the church, and I’m convinced he loves it too much to allow it to remain in its current form without some divine pressure.
The church must change. Now. The picture of Amy above is key. She mentioned that revival will only come to Detroit if we go to the place of agony, of groans and visibly shaking screams from our spirit. We must press like Amy did when she was contending for the life of our daughter on stage in Lakeland. Look at her face and never forget it.
I bet I’ve heard similar messages hundreds of times over the last ten years or so, yet we still resort to the familiar.
I simply can’t shake this. Nor do I want to. A burning is coming to Detroit, and we must be contending for it to arrive sooner than later.
This burning will threaten more than most of us are willing to risk. As churches raise the bar, intercede night and day, stimulate the heavy activity of the Holy Spirit and embrace an “I couldn’t care less” John the Baptist style disposition that cries continually for the arrival of Jesus- many will leave. Many will be offended. People we rely on to run our programs, to pay their tithes. Everything is at risk- money, people, reputation, 401ks, mortgage payments- everything.
However, the remnant who aren’t in it for their on security or satisfaction or affirmation will die daily and contend in unity for Jesus to arrive in power.
We, as simple and weak humans, are going to do our best to allow God to form Revival Church with all of this in mind. I believe it’s important for all of us to be in position, fully on fire and ready to burn night and day.
Detroit needs prophetic, cross-bearing churches on fire, night and day, in order for this revival to hit.
Pray for reformation. Pray against the American culture and calendar that has demanded submission. Pray for radical transformation in the church- from the way we pray, to the children’s ministry to the increase of white hot fire in the midst of our events. Pray for an end to Sunday only church. Pray for an end for the need for ‘seeker’ ministry as the flames of God’s fire transform these people in the midst of a shaking, trembling Upper Room style church.
And, in addition to praying for it- let’s just do it. We’re not waiting on God. We don’t have to convince him of the need for revival. He’s waiting on us to just do it.
It’s not enough : Detroit Revival Church : A new sound
It’s not enough. That’s the cry that’s bellowing deep within my spirit. 
I absolutely love and crave a revival atmosphere where the Spirit of God moves freely and in power. I know there is a yearning within many for the same thing, and the Holy Spirit is awakening us to that desire.
It’s important and it’s God- but it’s not enough. God never intended it to be. An atmosphere like that is in some ways a conduit of the greater mission, and in other ways an overflow of the greater mission.
I often hear about people’s frustration about the lack of Holy Spirit activity, freedom and anointing in church services. I understand that frustration. However, we have to be careful not to presume that a breakout service is the ultimate goal.
If we are using the system of the church to give us what we want, what we demand, even if it’s a holy encounter, then we are embracing a religious spirit. My favorite definition of religion is this: Man’s attempt to use God or God’s systems to get what he wants. We can’t use God’s system, but we can and should avail ourselves to it, and to God Himself.
We have to understand that the yearning for anointing and freedom in our church services isn’t primarily due to a God initiated desire to experience His presence alone, it is primarily so we can experience God’s presence which will free us up to know him deeply and fulfill our ministries.
I’ve been in indescribable revival style, Holy Spirit heavy atmospheres that have transformed me forever. It’s common to come out of a service like that with a sense of having experienced the crescendo. It feels great, we experience God, we are free, and we want more! This is good… very good. However, we must be disciplined enough to ask the greater question- what does this new found freedom enable me to do for the Kingdom?
Revival Church will be intently focused on experiencing God in overwhelming and deep ways as often as we can. The tremble in the fear of the Lord must be normal in this church. However, we cannot head home on a Sunday hoping for a repeat the next Sunday as a driving focus. That can’t be our primary thought. We have to look beyond the horizon and see where this manifest presence of God can lead us.
Instead of being satisfied with local church transformation (as wonderful as that is), we must not relent until we experience city, national and international transformation. The powerful encounter with God is in itself a fulfilled mission… without question. We are to pray continually, know him deeply, experience transforming intimacy night and day. Absolutely. But, when we encounter God at this level, we cannot help but to be driven with tears in our eyes for the greater things. For greater revival. For transformed lives. For impact that’s felt around the world.
The experience in the Upper Room in Acts was life-altering to say the least. That encounter however simply could not be contained in that room! It had to explode into society.
If a revival atmosphere in our church isn’t ultimately felt in a much greater radius, you have to question whether it’s revival at all.
Acts 2:1-2 (ESV) 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
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.
Last night I was at an event with Barbara Yoder and she mentioned a new sound that’s coming. I’ve heard others say the same thing. I agree. I believe this sound will be multi-faceted, but it will be without question the sound of God. As in Acts 2, When the sound comes, the multitudes will gather!
The sound of God will invade the house and it will be heard in the city.
Join us for our next Revival Church service… every Sunday at 6pm!