Recently I was in a discussion with someone about "Revival". They quickly found that I had a very different 'take' on what exactly revival is, and what it is that we should seek when it comes to revival. For some time now, I've felt that the Lord has been teaching me that I must be a man who consistently dies to the right to always be right. So, we seperated in disagreement, but hopefully in a loving way. I'm sure he left feeling that I was not very "spiritual", however, that wouldn't be the first time someone left a conversation with me feeling that way.I think that today's Church can easily be ignored. I mean, we've tried not to be ignored through our annoying and noisy political involvement: "Listen to us, or we'll rally millions of voters and vote you out." "Listen to us, or we'll form our own political party." "Listen to us, or we'll..."
When I look at Jesus, or even the Church of the New Testament, I don't see them going for noisy political activism. I see them becoming a force to be reckoned with because they had this radical passion for God. That's what drove them. And it's what bound them together. The community of Jesus-lovers protected each other. At times they lived together, celebrated together, grieved together, gave together, served together, and they even died together. They hid together in the catacombs. Eventually, their passionate, radical strength conquered the Roman Empire.
That blows my mind! This small community brought fear to a mighty, brutal empire and they couldn't be ignored, simply because of their passion for Jesus and the strength they had in their relationships with each other. A Roman general once said, "Never have I seen such tenacity of love." He complained that if you killed one, three more would take his or her place.
Wow. With an insignificant number of people, this radical New Testament church overwhelmed a massive military empire. Its success had absolutely NOTHING to do with politics and EVERYTHING to do with it's commitment and passion for Jesus, its strength of character, and its community life.
To me,... that is revival.
It's like when real revival breaks out people HAVE to react to it. I believe that the authentic love for God and others is either going to tick people off and repulse them, or they are going to be compelled to join in. But I honestly can't see "the real deal" just being ignored.
Today, 'the Church' seems to be getting ignored. Why?
This friend of mine was telling me how he's part of what he called, "a house of prayer" that is consistently praying for revival. He began to describe powerful prayer services where folks are literally crying out to God "to revive our land". "Folks walk up to a microphone and scream and wail for God to 'loose their city in the name of Jesus!' It's totally awesome. Sometimes we'll pray like that all night long!"
Neat guy, but I think he's praying amiss. You see, he's part of a movement that is praying for revival so that God will fix our country. When you ask him what that means, he'll begin describing what revival will look like: We we will have more Christians in political offices. Kids will be able to pray in our public schools. Alcoholism will go away, as bars shut down. Pornography will evaporate. President Obama will quote the Bible in speeches. You know, stuff like that.
I wonder how many are praying for a revival within ourselves... personally? The kind of revival where God would give us a revolutionary passion for Him and the ones He loves so much. Who's praying for the kind of revival that would inspire them to leave their darkened, smoke-filled, candle-lit, worship centers with their incredible musicians and sound equipment, in order to walk next door and actually BE Jesus to a world that can't see Him so well through our walls?
What if we stopped singing revival songs and screaming into microphones for God to do something radical... and became the answer to our own prayers?
In Luke 10 Jesus is talking to His buddies and He tells them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (verse 2). Did you catch that? Jesus told them to pray for people to get out there and get it done. So sure, prayer is extremely important. But check out the very next thing that comes out of His mouth: "Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves." You didn't miss that did you? Jesus told them to pray... then He said, "And by the way... BE THE ANSWER TO YOUR OWN PRAYER... AND GO YOURSELVES!"
Don't get me wrong. I believe the Church needs revival. It needs to be awakened. I'm just not sold on the idea that we should be spending hours praying for it... 24/7. I'm simply not sold on the idea that we need to attend conferences and seminars, where thousands gather to wail and "cry out to God to heal America". Sure, pray for God (He is the 'Lord of the harvest') to reach out; but shouldn't that take about 5 seconds? (Is there a Bible verse that gives us any idea how long our prayers should be? If you find one, please send it to me. Seriously.)
The truth is, we like our prayer meetings. They're cool. The goose-bumpy presence of God is groovy-neat... and we don't want to leave. I get it.
However, another thing is also true: Authentic revival isn't always so groovy feeling. It always seems to bring persecution. Jesus did say in that verse (Luke 10:3) that He was sending them out as lambs among wolves. In case you aren't familiar with the food chain: Lambs get eaten by wolves. Jesus also said, "If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also (John 15:20). Paul added, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).
Feel like some encouraging reading about revival? Check out what happened when revival hit Pisidian Antioch (Paul and Barny got the boot). When revival hit Lystra and Derbe (Paul got stoned... with rocks, not hippie-lettuce... and then left for dead). When revival came to Corinth, the Jews hauled Paul into court and charged him with heresy (That time Paul actually escaped physical harm, but an angry mob beat the stuffing out of Sosthenes, the local synagogue ruler, right outside the courtroom). When a dude named, George Whitefield preached in the 18th century, they threw rocks at him and spit on him (he didn't exactly get a book-deal handed to him).
Yeah, baby... good times!
So, you bet... let's pray for revival! But get ready. It's not all about accoustic guitars, motivational sermons, and pretty prayers. Things might literally get rough and uncomfortable. Things could actually get worse,... and the 'worse' could start in our own church.
But you know what? When we're weak... Jesus is strong. It's always during the moments of persecution, that the Church advances and grows. It's when we are committed to serving, loving, and obeying the voice of God - whether we get the goose-bumps or not - that His awesome Kingdom advances. It's when God revives individuals and our passion becomes radical for Jesus and others that His followers, the Church, doesn't get ignored.
While I am not a member of DC, I have attended Saturday services many, many times, and I have enjoyed reading your blog as well. For the first time, I feel led to remark. I do this with great reservation as I am just a regular joe (rather, joe-ette) who doesn’t have anything close to the knowledge of the Word as you do.
ReplyDeleteI loved your definition of revival. Loved it! However, something caught my eye. It seemed to read that you were differentiating your definition of revival to those at the International House of Prayer (IHOP).
While I am certainly no IHOP expert, I have attended at least once a week for about 1-1/2 years, and am in my second course at IHOPU. My experiences there with leaders, students, ministry workers, and regular joe-ettes like me agree with your definition. In fact,
Make no mistake, I totally believe this is what you were told. I just have never heard anyone from IHOP define revival as this individual did to you. Actually, I have witnessed revival among many who live a radical passion for God that drives them to be bound together as a community of Jesus-lovers who protect one another, at times live together, often celebrate together, grieve together, give and serve together, as you described.
IHOP’s vision (found on website) states:
1. To call forth, train, and mobilize intercessors to live a life of prayer as they preach the gospel, heal the sick, help the needy, make disciples, and seek to bring transformation to society; to make it our aim to personally live as fully devoted disciples of Jesus, who operate in the forerunner spirit.
2. To establish a perpetual solemn assembly in Kansas City by gathering corporately to fast and pray, because we recognize this as essential to establishing justice in society.
3. To train others to plant houses of prayer, churches, and/or marketplace ministries as the Spirit leads.
I also found this vision statement on their site as well: “To work in relationship with the larger Body of Christ to serve the Great Commission as we seek to walk out the two great commandments to love God and people.”
They are staying in their prayer rooms at all. For an idea of how they are involved, you can check out the Ministries section of their website.
While there are many powerful prayer services in the prayer room, the vast majority have little to do with screaming and wailing. Yes, there are times in which a prayer leader might raise his/her voice as the level of passion or compassion increases in them – just as I, in an awesome time of praise, might like to crank the music just so that I can sing all the louder. Yes, I suppose there has been some wailing by some too – but more often than not, if there are tears being shed, they are done in quiet. Just as you said in your post, prayer gatherings aren’t about “the goose-bumpy presence of God,” a “groovy feeling” or “acoustic guitars, motivational sermons and pretty prayers.” I think many would agree that prayer is often difficult, painful and intense.
One of the focuses of the prayer room is corporate intercession for justice (not political positions, but justice) which is done several times each day, which does include (intermittently) prayer leaders who lead corporate prayer on a particular topic which includes things like prayers for the unborn, persecuted, exploitation of children, lost, Haiti, New Orleans, or for the Church in a particular area to be encouraged, strengthened, or awakened if need be.
My purpose in remarking to your post is NOT to “defend” IHOP at all. My purpose is definitely NOT to oppose you – as I totally believe you were told what you were told. My purpose is also NOT to “win” your approval ofo IHOP’s ministry. Instead my remarks are solely to shed maybe a different light and a little more information about IHOP.
If I have spoken out of turn, please forgive me. I appreciate and admire you as the man of God that you are. I have learned much from you and plan to continue doing so. Sorry this post was so long.
Press on.
Peace out.
Patty.
This is my "oops" response to correct SOME of the more blantant grammatical errors to my previous post. To my defense, it was very late when I sent the remark and I was trying to cut some of it out because it was so long.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the 3rd paragraph, the dangling "In fact," should have been removed altogehter. Shesh.
And the paragraph after all the vision statements should have read "They are not staying in their prayer rooms at all."
I know there are other spelling and grammatical errors, but those 2 are the blantant ones I noticed this morning. Ugh.
Yeah, I think Jesus got mad at Peter because he couldn't pray at least an hour.
ReplyDeleteEverybody knows you hate IHOP. So that's where he started off on the wrong foot.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't talking specifically about IHOP, but a 'house of prayer' in Colorado. Never said I hated IHOP... did I?
ReplyDeleteI did think of the time Jesus said, "Couldn't you pray even for an hour?" I guess one could stretch that to say that God is asking us to pray for an hour... but I think it'd be a stretch. Either way, thanks for responding.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patty for your response. Good stuff. While I'm not the biggest fan of IHOP, I'm also very much not a 'hater' either. I guess I came off that way, but that wasn't my heart for this blog post. Rather that we seek PERSONAL revival. Sorry if I've offended anyone.
ReplyDeletePastor Michael, first I want you to know that I don't know who "Ty" is that has posted. I don't want you to think that I'm part of some "movement." haha. The reason I mentioned "ihop" is because I figured that is who you were referring to, and in fact, one of the labels you made for this post with "ihop," but I see now that you have removed it from this post. Please know that I never took you for a "hater" and understand you aren't a "fan" either -- that's okay. One of the things that I loved about DC from the very start is that, while we might do things a little different, we are all still family. So, even without being a fan, I have no reason to believe that you don't feel the same in this case as well. Thanks for hearing me out -- grammatical and spelling errors and all. Press on, Pastor Michael.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog, I read Colossians 3 and the word "renewal" jumped out at me in verse 11. This is the only instance of this word in the New American Standard Version and this word is not found in this verse in other translations. Intriguing. Anyway, the whole text of Colossians 3 describes the attitude and action we should adopt to bring about "renewal". When we start to live like Paul is challenging us to live, then revival will come, not as an event, but a movement of God's Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeletePeace
Good stuff Pastor! I heard a saying that has stuck with me.....Pray like it all depends on God and work like it all depends on you. I think a huge problem with most churches is that they are full of hearers of the Word and a lot less doers of the Word. Some of those hearers love to sit and pray while beautiful music plays or attend a great conference. They love good Christian concerts and getting fed. Always in the buffet line but never feeding others. That statement convicts me also for not "doing" the things like showing mercy and loving my enemies etc. that we are all called to do. I enjoy the buffet and the awesome peace of a prayer night and a concert also. But I always have to leave and take that passion to others.
ReplyDeleteI read last week in a book called Radical something that has got me thinking. The Author pointed out that we are all commanded to make disciples or be missionaries (Matthew 28:19)and that our calling tells us where we make disciples and how long we stay and things like that. You may be a missionary to your neighbor and another to Africa. Both doing what God told them to do, go an make diciples.
Should we be praying more? I think so. Should we be leaving our prayer rooms with a God fueled passion to show mercy and God's love to the world, for sure! I really struggle with people who talk like America should be a church. The Church purchased with The Blood of Jesus is a group of called out ones and even a good government can't do what God has called The Church too do, make disciples.
Also I think many praying for revival that is described with things like Obama speaking scripture and kids praying in school or Wednesday night being sacred etc. are missing something.
Your kids can pray in school, teach them how to pray without ceasing. Don't let your kid skip Wednesday night youth group for soccer or football or whatever else you signed them up for. Get your family in line with God's Word, Get our churches in line with God's Word and vote. Stop blaming the government for our lack of revival. My lack of revival is my fault and I could lock myself in a prayer room for years and potentially not change one bit. I must at some point leave the garden and go to the cross. I must become a man who leaves the prayer room and goes and makes disciples. The balance of the Christian walk, prayer, worship, studying God's Word and doing God's Word is tough. Most of us get a little sideway's and lean towards what we like best. The Key is being faithful in all these disciplines. And I have not seen you be a hater in much of anything. I have seen some zeal against phony religion and Jesus showed us that in word and deed so keep on keepin on as Joe Dirt would say. We love you.
Follow up: I guess when looking at the scripture below you could have some that would appear to not be "doing" much of anything but could be in God's will in prayer and fasting? Maybe the "prayer houses" are filled up with Anna's?
ReplyDelete36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[a] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
They're just hungry for things like this;
ReplyDeleteThe Welsh Revival of 1904, continues Rev. Murphy, "Was like a mighty tornado. The Spirit of God swept across the land until mountains and valleys, cities and villages were filled with the mighty manifestations of God. Churches were crowded and meetings went on day and night. Prayer, singing and testimonies would sweep over congregations in torrents and hundreds turned to Christ. Never in the history of Wales had such indescribable scenes been witnessed."
and this...
Around the same time in a little cottage in the village of Barvas, two elderly sisters - Peggy and Christine Smith, were also praying. Peggy was almost blind, and Christine was bent over with Arthritis. They were 84 and 82 years old. They also had been seeking God for revival, and to them came the promise, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground."
God’s Choice
God said, "In two weeks I shall send upon this community the greatest spiritual awakening it has known."
A wire was sent to Duncan Campbell "It is impossible for me to come at this time but keep praying and I will come next year." When the reply came back and was told to the sisters they answered, "That is what man has said, but God has said that He will be here in two weeks." In the meantime Duncan Campbell’s meetings in Skye were cancelled, due to the fact that the tourist board had monopolized the accomodation for the convention. Within two weeks he was in Barvas!
The First Meeting
The first meeting was held in the old parish church. Many people had gathered in a great expectancy but nothing exceptional happened at that meeting. Duncan Campbell appeared discouraged and so one of the deacons went to him and said, "Don’t be discouraged, it is coming. I hear the rumbling of heaven’s chariot wheels. We will have another night of prayer and then we will see what God is going to do!"
The Police Station
As the meeting was closing someone excitedly hurried to the preacher, "Come with me! There’s a crowd of people outside the police station; they are weeping and in great distress. We don’t know what’s wrong with them but they are calling for someone to come and pray with them."
The minister described the scene outside the police station; "I saw a sight I never thought possible. Something I shall never forget. Under a starlit sky, men and women were kneeling everywhere, by the roadside, outside the cottages, even behind the peat stacks, crying for God to have mercy on them."
Nearly 600 people, making their way to the church, suddenly experienced the power of God falling upon them in great conviction, and like Paul on the road to Damascus, fell to their knees in repentance.
Revival had come in power - for five weeks it swept across that one parish. Duncan Campbell conducted four services every night; in one church at 7pm, in another at 10pm and a third at midnight and then back to the first one at 3am - then home between 5-6am - tired - but happy to be in the midst of such a wonderful move of God.
Ty, thanks for sharing all this... that's a lot of typing. I have books and books that share stories like these. They are neat, to say the least. Still not the "Bible", but neat stories, and definately the mainstream definition of 'revival'.
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteTy, I'm sensing that I've offended you by your comments. I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm not I'd encourage you to re-read this blog before you jump to some of the conclusions that perhaps you've jumped to. What is the point of my blog? What was I trying to say? What was Jesus trying to say in the passage I quoted from Luke 10?
ReplyDeleteI spend much time counseling and talking with folks who've been turned off to Jesus, the Church, and Christianity because of what they've witnessed. Some describe stale, boring, dull and dead services that make them never want to return. Others describe what my friend described that I have written about here. In both cases, and scores of others, people are turned off by what they perceive as "FAKE". My challenge is that we be AUTHENTIC. My challenge is that we live our lives by what the Bible teaches, not the wonderful stories of old, not by what worked yesterday, not even by the hype and inspired words of those that are passionate speakers... BUT BY THE WORD OF GOD.
I am NOT putting down a movement, a denomination, a particular church or a specific ministry. I am putting down an ATTITUDE that reeks with nothing but hype, artificial faith, and a desire to remain comfortable. I believe this attitude can be found in the Catholic Church, a Baptist Church, Desperation Church or even IHOP.
For this reason, I'll stick with my original comment and challenge:
"It's when God revives individuals and our passion becomes radical for Jesus and others that His followers, the Church, doesn't get ignored"
Love ya, man.
No I'm not offended. I'm just saying the results after some of these revivals were the same results you're talking about having. Not saying there is a formula, just passionate hearts for God and the things of God. I just love it when God does it and there is no mistaking it. So I know we'll probably never see eye to eye. So what ever no big deal. No love lost.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Pastor Michael.
ReplyDelete