Posts Tagged ‘revival church’
Revival Church is changing its name to Chliaros Church!
Not only are we changing our name—we are also shifting our vision that will result in explosive growth!
Revival Church is adopting a Greek word in scripture to help define our new vision. Our new name is Chliaros Church. Chliaros is pronounced khlee-ar-os'.
Here are our new Core Values: (Our old Core Values can be found here: http://detroitrevivalchurch.com/about)
- Our mission is your comfort. We know that its important for people to be affirmed in their personal choices, desires and level of commitment.
- Tolerance is in our DNA. We commit to encourage you in your life decisions because your personal happiness is what matters most.
- We rally around your vision. We will shift our focus when it conflicts with yours.
- We respond to the status quo. We embrace relevance and we will yield to the prevailing cultural norms in our society.
- There are many churches in the city, and that is a problem. We commit to protect you from outside influences by ensuring you are only impacted by our ministry. We are here to protect you.
- We affirm honest analysis. We will teach on common sense and wise approaches to success in life.
- We are all about the numbers. A low key, toned down service will help us grow numerically. We want to impact the masses with our satisfying and affirming atmosphere of happiness!
- The mission of the majority prevails. We support a democratic, body led ministry where the people vote on what our mission emphasis should be—and we then serve that vision.
- We refuse to offend people through unnecessary challenge. We understand that a comfortable atmosphere is an affirming atmosphere. We won’t burden you with misapplied biblical standards for living.
- Giving is optional. While many churches believe that every person should give at least ten percent of their money to the church, we believe its better to give according to what you feel is appropriate.
- Sickness and disease are a part of life. And we commit to saying a prayer for you so you are comforted in your trial.
- We err on the side of order. We know it’s important to feel at home and unthreatened in a worship atmosphere.
Additionally:
- Due to challenging schedules we will not be praying on site at churches every Friday night. It will be much easier to start a Facebook page where people can post their prayers at their convenience.
- The School of Fire will change its name to the School of Chliaros People. We will eliminate the emphasis on groaning (which is weird and makes people uncomfortable) and will start to emphasize teaching on how to excel in your personal dreams.
- We will be shifting from calling people to extreme commitment to encouraging them to only attend a service once or twice a month. Summer is almost here and we believe it’s better to spend time relaxing with your family in the beautiful weather than most anything else in life. (Amy and I will also stop attending as often with the same principle in mind.)
- Our services will be limited to one hour.
- We will always cancel services for the Super Bowl.
- I will start wearing a suit.
Oh, and our key verse will be changing from Joshua 3:5 to Revelation 3:16:
Revelation 3:16 (NKJV) 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Vine's Words: Lukewarm
Greek Word: χλιαρός
Transliteration: chliaros
Part of Speech: adj
Phonetic Pronunciation:khlee-ar-os'
Root: from chlio (to warm)
Thank you for your continued support of Chliaros Church!
Posted APRIL 1, 2012
Proverbs 18:2 (ESV) 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
From abortion to adoption : New Revival Church worship video
www.changetwoletters.com is under development! Plus, check out video clips from Sunday’s Revival Church event!
Head on over to www.detroitrevivalchurch.com and watch several clips of Aaron Crider, Val Ladendorf and myself releasing the fire of revival in worship and teaching!
Forward the following artwork to as many people as you can…
The State of Revival Church : What Next?
The vision is HOT and I am boldly calling you into position.
I am gripped by a consuming mandate that is so much bigger than me it’s laughable.
Revival Church is a key gathering point for the entire regional church of Detroit—and the need for highly devoted people is skyrocketing.
We need you.
We are looking for people who really believe that revival can come to Detroit—but we aren’t looking for people who are waiting on the sidelines for something to happen. It’s time to work.
This need of fiery people includes 1000 people who won’t take no for an answer when presented with the possibility of revival. God gave me the job of gathering 1000 people to join together on Friday nights to pray for Detroit. See where we’ll be next Friday at www.revivallab.com.
**MY GUESS IS if you are in this region, and you are reading this, you are included in the 1000. We’re calling every leader, every pastor, every intercessors in the entire region to pray with us every week.
The importance of the region of revival minded Christians gathering together is so extreme.
WATCH THIS VIDEO!
Everybody MUST watch this video. It’s about the call to rock Detroit with fire! Go to www.revivallab.com and watch the video on the bottom left corner.
The State of the Church
I am humbled by what God has done in such a short amount of time. The culture that’s been developed at Revival Church is stunning!
>>One friend regularly comes from Chicago because she can’t find anything like Revival Church in her city of millions! Detroit is going to draw the masses just like this!
It’s rare to find a church that’s made up of so many people who have devoted themselves to revival. The cost is so high, and the reformation requires so much.
Our worship experience is rare and very special. TheLab School of Fire is growing fast and transforming a lot of people.
Our leadership team is unparalleled. We are blessed. It’s hard to believe we started in my living room just two and a half years ago.
WHAT’S NEXT?
- I am actively dreaming and allowing God to radically expand the vision of Revival Church.
- We must see another wave of people flood into position and refuse to allow anything to move them out. It’s time to lock in and refuse to let issues, unfulfilled expectations or frustrations shut you down.
- I’m boldly asking for another 150 people from the region to discover their role at Revival Church—and simply come every time the doors are open.
- I’m boldly asking for everybody to financially invest into this mission radically. Some can give hundreds and I’m convinced some can give tens of thousands of dollars.
- I’m seeking ways to impact a much broader region…well beyond the Detroit Metro area.
- I’m looking for 100 new students at theLab School of Fire. They must be trained in the DNA and vision that God has imparted into this regional ministry of revival. This will require thousands of dollars for marketing.
- I’m looking for my leadership team to expand significantly with people who are burning with the vision and who will serve humbly and feverishly (just like our current leaders!).
- It’s time to get our message on as many media channels as we can. Detroit must hear the sounding of the alarm to gather and advance the Kingdom in Detroit.
Powerful Insight
I received some rock solid insight regarding church development from Ed Young, and I wanted to pass this on. This is very much what we are applying at Revival Church. If you are a leader, this is for you:
- Draft impact players.
One of the most important skills as a leader is to have discernment. Draft people who are influencers. Draft yes men and women (i.e., people who are yielded and encouragers). Look at the spouse of your impact players. You better go spouse hunting because they are one. How do these people spell relational relief. Check out Facebook. Check references. - Develop double vision.
If you have a church of 20 people, pastor like it is 40. If you have 200 people, pastor like it is 400. - Change.
Change > Conflict > Growth = the spin cycle of success. If you aren’t careful as a leader, you can get as a contemporary church become as predictable as a traditional church. - Build a big shallow end in your church.
You better have a place where you can rapidly plug in new attendees and new Christ-followers. The church grows from the outside-in. Start reaching people, and make a big place for them. - Put on your shades.
The vision should be so bright, so hot that people have to wear shades. Make people feel and know the vision of your church. Don’t assume that people know the vision. Talk about the vision. People don’t give to need; they give to vision. - Las Vegas
Las Vegas has nothing to say, but they know how to say it. We have everything to say but don’t know how to say it. Most of us do a horrible job in promoting. We should be the best promoters in the world. - Consult other leaders before you consult the consultant.
Talk to people who are in the game and not the consultants. - Pay now or pay later.
You have to pay your people well. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. What is well? I have no idea, but you’ll know if you ask questions. Put money in the hands of people that you know will be generous and bring the tithe. Where your treasure is, so your heart is. If you are going to err on the side of a poverty mentality or prosperity mentality, err on being generous. - Have a good HATtitude.
What kind of hat do you wear? If you can’t put on the hat of enforcing the rules, you are doing something wrong. Sometimes you need the vision hat. Sometimes you need the corporate hat. - Deal regularly and rapidly with staff infection.
When you see a shark on your staff – deal with it. If you have to sit down with a staff member and motivate them more than twice, you don’t need them around you. - Watch the leaves.
People will leave your church. Don’t tell me how many people are coming to your church; tell me how many people are leaving your church. If you are doing the right things, people will leave. Even a third of the angels left heaven. - Become childish.
One of the most important things in the church is your children’s ministry. Put your best energy, best time, best money, and best volunteers with the children. - Pick up special deliveries.
Pyramid your church with special days (big events). It must have a meaning behind it and not just gimmicks. - Tweak out!
Create a climate of critiques. Small tweaks take you to giant peaks. - Investigate what you delegate.
People don’t do what you expect; they do what you inspect. - To go out, you have to get under.
I have to get under the things that God has placed over me so that I can get over the things that God has placed under me. This is about authority issues. It is about honor. - The message is the main thing.
Worship elements, videos, and other things are important, but the message is the main thing. - Become a rescuer.
Church is about souls. We do all of this because people need the Lord Jesus Christ. We are rescuers.
See you tomorrow for burning prayer at 10pm and then Sunday at Revival Church!
John
Corry Robinson TONIGHT at Revival Church
Expect a piercing prophetic message of revival by Corry Robinson TONIGHT at Revival Church!
Corry Robinson was with Pastor Joe Sazyc this morning and I received the following texts:
“Brother, I’m BURNING! Something’s gonna happen tonight!”
“Prophetic exploding! Bodies all over the floor.”
“I’m telling you. There is something powerful and REAL about this guy!”
Burning intercession begins at 5pm tonight and the night of fire begins at 6pm!
Check this out from Corry:
We are entering a time of true demarcation! Those who don’t really know Jesus from the place of intimacy will EXHAUST THEMSELVES with worthless attempts of self glorification. They may have big building programs and big MEDIA HYPE and big crowds; but at the end of the day, their works will be counted as ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the Presence of the ONLY ONE WORTHY of all those things. And the world will know the difference: those who will settle for hype will have NO SUBSTANCE, while those who are wholehearted will have THE NAME OF GOD written on their assemblies-the Name that carries more weight than anything in the UNIVERSE!!! I said all of that to say to those who embrace the life of simplistic wholeheartedness, ”Continue to embrace the place of obscurity; and at the right time, THE LORD HIMSELF will raise you up-AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO SPEND MILLIONS FOR HIM TO DO IT! Just continue to spend your time wisely!
Corry is the founder of FireBrand Worship, a music ministry that emphasizes passionate, wholehearted devotion to Jesus Christ particularly through music. He has been referenced by some as one who ‘releases the trumpet sound of the Lord’ through spontaneous prophetic worship. Corry also founded the Orlando Night Of Worship (Orlando N.O.W.!), which seeks to gather worship leaders, intercessors, singers and musicians in the Central Florida area for monthly 8-hour ‘nightwatch’ gatherings that focus on cultivating intimate worship and intercession, and to equip individuals through teaching on intimacy with Jesus. Corry has a deep burden to see God raise up Nazarites out of the inner-cities to become burning and shining lamps, who will stand and hear the voice of the Lord, and herald the message of the Coming Bridegroom God.
Corry has served as a worship leader in a local church since 1998. He and his wife Lakisha live in Orlando, Florida.
CORRY ROBINSON AT THECALL
Here’s a video of Corry praying at TheCall Detroit: http://youtu.be/K2KDh5spVOc
theLab begins in 40 minutes : Corry Robinson Sunday at Revival Church
We are calling for 1000 revival remnants to gather every Friday night from 10pm-midnight!
Consider this quote by Evan Roberts, the hero of the Welsh Revival, as he shares the simple formula for revival:
"Congregate the people who are willing to make a total surrender. Pray and wait. Believe God’s promises. Hold daily meetings.”
We are taking serious steps to fulfill this simple yet costly mandate.
Head over to www.revivallab.com for tonight’s event and future events!
CORRY ROBINSON AT REVIVAL CHURCH THIS SUNDAY
FIRST: This Sunday night at Revival Church, Corry Robinson will be releasing prophetic decrees and sharing dreams he has had regarding Detroit. Prayer begins at 5pm and the service is at 6pm.
Corry has a deep burden to see God raise up Nazarites out of the inner-cities to become burning and shining lamps, who will stand and hear the voice of the Lord, and herald the message of the Coming Bridegroom God.
Watch a video HERE.
REVIVAL CHURCH MEETS AT CENTRAL CHURCH, 1529 E. 12 MILE RD, MADISON HEIGHTS, MI 48071.
Two extremely special announcements regarding the Detroit revival movement
theLab Events have launched! Monthly meetings begin in partnership with The Crossing and Revival Church next month!
Consider this quote by Evan Roberts, the hero of the Welsh Revival, as he shares the simple formula for revival:
"Congregate the people who are willing to make a total surrender. Pray and wait. Believe God’s promises. Hold daily meetings.”
We are taking serious steps to fulfill this simple yet costly mandate.
CORRY ROBINSON AT REVIVAL CHURCH THIS SUNDAY
FIRST: This Sunday night at Revival Church, Corry Robinson will be releasing prophetic decrees and sharing dreams he has had regarding Detroit. Prayer begins at 5pm and the service is at 6pm.
Corry has a deep burden to see God raise up Nazarites out of the inner-cities to become burning and shining lamps, who will stand and hear the voice of the Lord, and herald the message of the Coming Bridegroom God.
Watch a video HERE.
REVIVAL CHURCH MEETS AT CENTRAL CHURCH, 1529 E. 12 MILE RD, MADISON HEIGHTS, MI 48071.
REVIVAL FIRES: MONTHLY REVIVAL EVENTS BEGINNING MARCH 2ND
I have had a clear vision for a monthly regional revival strategy in Detroit since I arrived. theLab Prayer Events and theLab School of Fire were the first two pieces of this mandate, and now theLab Events are sponsoring BRAND NEW monthly revival events! The monthly event is called simply REVIVAL FIRES. That’s the purpose of our sounding the alarm and gathering the people.
Brian Simmons felt extremely impressed that monthly meetings hosted by The Crossing and Revival Church were critical, and that we should be prepared for extended meetings. The spirit of revival is here!
With our great friends Pastors Randy and Deb O’Dell at The Crossing Church in Farmington, theLab and Revival Church will be serving this great vision the first Friday of every month.
March 2nd we will be at The Crossing in Farmington for a powerful revival service, led by the Revival Church worship team, and then we will remain and launch into theLab Prayer Event there from 10pm-midnight.
We will be releasing and activating the 10 Principles of Finney's Revival that Brian Simmons wrote about on The Elijah List. You can see that article here: http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=9184
You can go to www.atthecrossing.com for a map and directions to The Crossing.
Photos & video: I can’t imagine any revival hungry person in the Detroit region missing this
It landed again. The spirit of revival exploded onto the scene in Detroit last night!
I honestly can’t imagine any revival hungry person in the Detroit region missing these services! Watch the video HERE!
We had people from Wisconsin, Chicago, Toledo and other places make the trip just to experience the revival fire that has been lit in Detroit!
I'm barely able to function as my eyes attempt to focus on the blazing glory in front of me. Obliterating the old, and experiencing something new. The glory is hitting the earth. They had to carry me out of the mtg last nite. That hasn't happened to me for many years.~Brian Simmons
I was consumed by the glory of God myself all night long. Leading a meeting under such a strong influence of new wine is a site to behold! Then, when I was in the foyer one of my heavily anointed staff comes over and touches me… and I was done. I crashed. The anointing was so intense, and so new, that I collapsed. I’m still carrying that glory right now as I type this.
IT CONTINUES TONIGHT AT REVIVAL CHURCH
I’ll say it again, if you live within 2-3 hours of Detroit, and you are hungry for God, hungry for revival, it just wouldn’t make any sense to stay home today. If you think the Super Bowl is a better alternative, I have done a tragically poor job of revealing to you the level of God’s glory that arrived in the city last night. We cannot treat this arrival of the King casually. His Royalty is here!
Join with us at 5pm at Revival Church for an hour of prayer that will shock you to your core. Then, at 6pm, Catherine Mullins and Brian Simmons will be taking us further into the burnings of revival!
Revival Church meets at CENTRAL CHURCH, 1529 E. 12 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071.
What racial problems in Detroit? : The most important event
Detroit City Strategy: The most important event of the week is NOT our Sunday service.
As much as I LOVE Sunday night services at Revival Church (and, yes, I mean LOVE!), they are not the most important events of the week.
For those that are interested in city-wide revival, transformation and real unity there is no match for Friday night’s prayer events that travel the city of Detroit.
*Tonight is extremely special. After Catherine Mullins and Brian Simmons minister the fire of revival at The Crossing (the conference starts at 6:30pm), we’ll take over and continue in burning groans and cries of intercession!
10pm TONIGHT: The Crossing 31590 Grand River Ave.Farmington MI, 48336
Detroit: theLab Friday Prayer Events—A movement unlike any other
theLab is an apostolic and prophetic movement in the Detroit region that is working WONDERS. In fact, it has been so powerful that a school of ministry has been birthed out of it! theLab School of Fire is shocking and rocking a lot of zealous, emerging history makers!
Since January, 2011 theLab has been in around 50 different churches in the Detroit region. That means that 50 churches have been rocked by the life and fire of the Holy Spirit in unusual fashion.
The grace that’s on this movement is remarkable. Astonishing. The call is for EVERY pastor, leader, intercessor, revivalist and burning man and woman of God in Detroit to gather together every Friday night from 10pm-midnight. This is a city movement of fire for the entire city church of Detroit. I’m sounding the alarm. Who will respond?
Joel 1:14 – The Message® (MSG)
Declare a holy fast, call a special meeting, get the leaders together, Round up everyone in the country. Get them into God’s Sanctuary for serious prayer to God.
What racial problems in Detroit?
Since before I moved to Detroit I’ve heard about the severe racial tension that plagues this region.
Since a growing team of burning revivalists and I have been traveling the city every Friday night for over a year, both in urban and suburban churches, my testimony is:
I sense no racial tension whatsoever. None.
We pray in fire together. We love God together. Black. White. There is unity. There is no division. NONE.
And, it’s extremely easy. No working things out. No focus on past racial violations. Just freedom.
Off the Radar
I know what you are probably thinking. I’m not seeing all of the other churches and ministries that are steeped in division and racial strife.
I know they are out there, but the prophetic word is this:
They are off the radar.
The next move of God that is drawing very near in Detroit DOES NOT include them—unless they simply repent, pray, humble themselves and join the movement of revival in Detroit.
Repentance will put them right back on the radar of God’s city church mission in Detroit. It’s that easy.
I will make this as clear as I can—division, jealousy, bitterness and resistance in any form, whether it’s racial, theological, relational or otherwise will take us off the radar. We will miss the outpouring. The fear of the Lord should be striking every one of us right now.
Those who are divisive and resistant are simply being replaced by a fresh army of revivalists and a new city church of power in Detroit.
I believe the days of attempting to unite the old guard in Detroit is over. Seeking cohesion between the pastors here is an honorable mission, but that season is coming to an end as a willing remnant takes their place. This simply means that the mission is switching from reconciliation to advance. It’s time to take steps.
The good news is that at any time, those off the radar can willingly step right back onto it. It’s that easy. But, the pillar of fire is moving, so they better do it quickly.
Brian Simmons/Catherine Mullins Friday-Sunday
Have you registered? Brian Simmons and Catherine Mullins are in Detroit Friday through Sunday!
I talked with Brian on the phone today and he said that extended meetings should break out here very soon! The weighty, urgent impression of the Holy Spirit just can’t be denied.
I refuse to lead a church called Revival Church if we can’t live up to its name. If we call it Revival Church but God considers it to be Ichabod Church, I’m shutting it down. The fear of God is to extreme on me.
We are going after revival. It’s literally the ONLY hope for Detroit. As important as social justice and key teachings and unity are, only revival will bring transformation and life to Detroit. Revival must come.
It’s time to press and contend and war!
DAYBREAKERS, DELIVERERS AND DAWNMAKERS CONFERENCE: DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER!
Click HERE to register for this very special conference that just may change the face of Detroit forever!
Purpose
One of the words that we keep hearing for 2012 is AWAKENING is COMING! God is prophetically speaking to His people telling them to arise, awake, and accept the light of a new day! Daybreakers are coming who will pull up the dawn bringing the light of the "Day of the Lord" to the earth. It will make the wicked tremble and the truth seekers humble. God will begin something powerful this year that will open doors of evangelism with signs and wonders. A new move of God will start in 2012! DAYBREAKERS are coming!
Invited Ministries
Brian Simmons and his wife Candice, have been described as pioneers, prophets, and pastors. As a spiritual father and mother, their teaching and prophetic gifts have opened doors in many nations to take the message of authentic awakening and revival to many. For the last 35 years they have labored to present Christ in His fullness wherever God sends them. Brian is the author of numerous books which reveal depths of insight that the Holy Spirit has released for the last days.
Catherine Mullins song-writer and worship leader, longs to see the Bride of Christ come forth in purity and holiness. Inspired by this, her goal in life is to bring the world into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ through worship. Since the Fall of 2008 Catherine has been traveling extensively releasing her heart for prophetic worship and the Body of Christ. Her desire is that all would come into a deeper revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. While at home Catherine leads worship at Coweta Community Church in Newnan, GA.
Schedule
- Friday, February 3rd – 6:30 PM
- Worship with Catherine Mullins and teaching by Dr. Brian Simmons
Saturday, February 4th – 9:30 AM, 2 PM - Workshops with Dr. Brian Simmons
- Saturday, February 4th – 6:30 PM
- Worship with Catherine Mullins and teaching by Dr. Brian Simmons
- Sunday, February 5th – 10 AM
- Dr. Brian Simmons and Catherine Mullins will be ministering at The Crossing Church
- Doors will open ½ hour prior to each session.
- Sunday, February 5th – 6pm
- Dr. Brian Simmons and Catherine Mullins will be ministering at Revival Church
Locations
The Crossing Church (Friday-Sunday morning)
31590 Grand River Ave.
Farmington, MI 48336
Revival Church (Sunday evening)
Revival Church meets at CENTRAL CHURCH
1529 E. 12 Mile Rd
Madison Heights, MI 48071.
Video & Notes- Quenching the wrong fire : The spirit of revival hit Revival Church last night
I will never tone down the activity of the Holy Spirit out of respect of those less hungry.
That’s my promise to Revival Church.
Watch an anointed, burning new message on our XPmedia channel here: http://www.xpmedia.com/en0XbEQ1SLWU
I share about the surprising and historic move of God at Revival Church last night. Undone doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m experiencing.
After a shift at theLab on Friday and Saturday, I released a sharp prophetic message of revival last night that resulted in groans and cries of travail as the people flooded to the altars.
Some comments about this weekend:
“I am sobered by the depth of God's Presence I was engulfed in last night. Selah.”
"Last night, an intense spirit of repentance fell like nothing I've ever experienced before. All I can say is, wake up people of God. Wake up, wake up, wake up!"
“There is so much freedom… so much burden that was lifted off of me that I can not explain it. God is just speaking so clearly now. I believe that everyone that was there tonight will carry that awakening every way they go. Shaking people, shaking their surroundings into an unexpected awakening. This was only one night, like you said, its only the beginning.”
“YESSS LORD! I've been manifesting since…”
“Friday night, i literally felt something snap (i could feel the shift in the spirit). Inside of me things have been very very different. It is almost like i am a completely different person. Personally i am experiencing a shaking i have never felt before and it has not stopped!!”
QUENCHING THE WRONG FIRE
Is the church quenching the fiery darts of the enemy or is it quenching the Holy Spirit?
With all of the darts that are hitting the church in the form of depression, fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, apathy and on and on, you have to know that the wrong fire is being quenched all too often.
Watch the video. Send it to everyone you know. It’s time to gather the church! The time is now for 1000 people to travel with us each Friday night from church to church as we pray in fire!
Here’s my notes from a historic night last night at Revival Church:
Quenching the Wrong Fire
I. Come Holy Spirit!
a. I want to make it clear: The Holy Spirit is welcome at Revival Church.
i. He has no restrictions, no boundaries, no limits. His tangible, raging fire must engulf us!
ii. We are going to gain to understand what a MOVE OF GOD is. When God arrives we won’t be able to stop weeping and trembling under his weight!
iii. People will flood these altars! Repentance will spread through the city! Tears will pour through the streets!
iv. The God of the Bible is tragically foreign to the modern church.
v. As long as we are content to live without revival, we will – Leonard Ravenhill
vi. My God! We are content with nice meetings and life as usual!
vii. Evan Roberts "Congregate the people who are willing to make a total surrender. Pray and wait. Believe God’s promises. Hold daily meetings.”
1. It’s time! Brian Simmons just wrote me and said he sees extended meetings breaking out at Revival Church!!!!!
2. There is a fire that is to consume the church.
3. There is an Elijah level firestorm that has evaded the modern church.
b. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (ESV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
i. The church of America has been quenching the wrong spirit!
ii. We are quenching the wrong fire! The fire of the Holy Spirit was meant to rage!
iii. Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV) 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
iv. We are to quench the fire of the enemy but we’ve chosen instead to quench the fire of the Holy Spirit!
v. Why is the enemy continually assaulting the church? Why is the church depressed, divorcing, sick, bitter?
1. The fire of the enemy is hitting us because the fire of God is not!
2. How do we deal with the fiery darts of the enemy? The same way we experience the fire of God—FAITH!
3. It’s an issue of belief vs. unbelief!
4. OHHH! We must fix the problem of an encounterless, doubt driven religious experience!
5. Biblically signs, wonders and miracles are normal! They are to happen everywhere all the time! What has happened??!
c. Mark 16:17-18 (NIV) 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
1. Today signs, wonders, miracles and healings are special and rare, and we are OK with that!
2. Do we not see that the Bible tells us an evidence of belief is that it’s not rare at all! It’s common! The church is supposed to be such a shock to the culture of the world, a strange company of burning believers!
3. Evan in Wales in 1904: “My mission is first to the churches. When the churches are aroused to their duty, men of the world will be swept into the Kingdom. A whole church on its knees is irresistible.”
4. Show Brownsville video (dropbox)
5. 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
d. 1 Kings 18:20-24 (ESV) 20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”
1. The God who answers by fire, he is God!
2. It’s a strong prophetic messenger that will bring an end to this!
3. Declare the word of the Lord! Call down the fire!
e. 2 Kings 1:9-14 (ESV) 9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’ ” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king’s order, ‘Come down quickly!’ ” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.”
1. We must become experts in fire!
2. The moment we do, people will flood to these altars from every bar, movie theater, mall, school… they will suddenly show up trembling, crying, wrenching in grief, desperate for God as the fire consumes them!
3. There is a message that must start to blow through the church! The religious, inward focused, lazy, sleeping, resistant church is blocking the fire of God that the world is waiting for! Get out of the way! God is coming! Repent! Turn!
f. Joel 2:15-17 (NKJV) 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?' "
1. I’m blowing the trumpet! I’m calling 1000 people to gather on Friday nights! We’re declaring an inconvenient devotion to fire in Detroit! Where are those who are talking about revival? Where are the pastors? Where are the revivalists? Wake up!
2. We were born for this! We weren’t born to simply survive, simply raise a family, simply find a job. We were created for something greater! To burn! To groan! To be fully revived! Now!
3. We were created to return the enemy’s fiery darts with a night and day onslaught of fiery missiles of fierce holy violence!
g. Romans 13:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
1. It’s time! Put on armor you warriors!
2. William Booth “We must wake ourselves up! Or somebody else will take our place, and bear our cross, and thereby rob us of our crown.”
3. Revelation 3:15-19 (NKJV) 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
4. Zealous!!!!
h. Romans 13:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
1. People are wrecked by a spirit of strife, mad at other people, derailed because of their disappointment in others, in friends, in bosses, in pastors, in churches. STOP IT AND REPENT! Turn! Burn! Rise up! Put on the LORD Jesus Christ!
2. Detroit is going to Hell while the church argues over who’s most important, who has the best vision, how we’re disappointed, upset, rejected. STOP IT! Jesus didn’t expect people to put him on their throne, he allowed their rejection to put him on a bloody cross so he could set them free! My God! Stop looking for the thrones of man! Take on the cross of rejection!
3. It’s the only way the fiery darts of the enemy can be turned on him!
4. It’s time to stop quenching the fire of the Holy Spirit! It’s time to believe, to sign up for a ridiculous level of commitment to revival, to burn night and day and quench not only the darts of the enemy on our lives, but the fiery darts that have been raining down on Detroit for decades. Revival is coming to Detroit, church!!!!!!!!!!
