Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Welsh Revival
A century ago Wales experienced the last National Religious Revival, a revival that brought in an extra 100,000 new converts according to the estimates of the time, and a movement that quickly spread to the 4 corners of the World. Yet that great move of the Spirit had very small beginnings. Beginnings that didn’t always involve the great preachers of the day – erudite and educated as they were, but instead included, for instance a young teenager from New Quay, Cardigan – Florrie Evans – who in a youth meeting in February 1904 declared publicly that she loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart. With these words the Spirit seemed to fall on the meeting and the fire quickly spread to other young people in the Cardiganshire area.
In September of the same year, an Evangelist Seth Joshua was addressing a Convention which included these young people at Blaenanerch just 5 miles north of Cardigan. Seth himself had been praying for years that God would raise up a young man from the pits to revive the churches – little did he know that on Thursday September 29th 1904 his prayer was to be answered in a life changing experience for one 26 year old student, Evan Roberts.
For years Evan had been a faithful member of Moriah Calvinistic Methodist church at Loughor, he was a Sunday School Superintendent, a consciencious reader of the main theological works of his day, and more than that he had been praying for revival for over 11 years. Having been converted as a young teenager, he continued to pray regularly that God would visit again the nation in Revival Power. Determined to do his part, he felt compelled to go into the Calvinistic Methodist Ministry and on September 13th 1904 he became a pupil of the Newcastle Emlyn Grammar School to prepare for Trefecca Theological College.
It was only 2½ weeks after arriving that he found himself at Blaenanerch – and at a crossroads in his spiritual experience. A spiritual experience which would lead him back to the young people of his own church Moriah Loughor where he shared his experience and encouraged them to be open to God’s Spirit. Within two weeks the Welsh Revival was national news and before long, Evan Roberts and his brother Dan and his best friend Sidney were travelling the country conducting Revival Meetings and they were meetings with a difference. Meetings which broke the conventional and bi-passed the traditional – often the ministers just sat down unable to preach or even to understand what storm had arrived in their usually sedate temples.
Souls were saved, individual lives were changed and Society itself was changed.
Countless numbers of souls were saved. No records were kept of the actual number converted, but 150,000 is a very conservative estimate during the first six months.
Wales again became a God-fearing nation.
People, thousands of them, were saved. There are men and women still in our churches today whose parents or grandparents' testimonies were that they were converted in the Revival in 1904 or 1905.
Not only were individual lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, but whole communities were changed indeed society itself was changed - Wales was again a God-fearing nation.
Public houses became almost empty. Men and women who used to waste their money in getting drunk were now saving it, giving it to help their churches, buying clothes and food for their families. And not only drunkenness, but stealing and other offences grew less and less so that often a magistrate came to court and found there were no cases for him.
Men whose language had been filthy before learnt to talk purely. It is related that not only did the colliers put in a better day's work, but also that the pit ponies turned disobedient! The ponies were so used to being cursed and sworn at that they just didn't understand when orders were given in kind, clean words! The dark tunnels underground in the mines echoed with the sounds of prayer and hymns, instead of oaths and nasty jokes and gossip.
People who had been careless about paying their bills, or paying back money they had borrowed, paid up all they owed. People who had not been friends for a long time because of something that had happened in the past, forgot their quarrels and were happy together again. In fact, Evan Roberts used to say that there could be no blessing on anyone who had unkind thoughts about anyone else.
In September of the same year, an Evangelist Seth Joshua was addressing a Convention which included these young people at Blaenanerch just 5 miles north of Cardigan. Seth himself had been praying for years that God would raise up a young man from the pits to revive the churches – little did he know that on Thursday September 29th 1904 his prayer was to be answered in a life changing experience for one 26 year old student, Evan Roberts.
For years Evan had been a faithful member of Moriah Calvinistic Methodist church at Loughor, he was a Sunday School Superintendent, a consciencious reader of the main theological works of his day, and more than that he had been praying for revival for over 11 years. Having been converted as a young teenager, he continued to pray regularly that God would visit again the nation in Revival Power. Determined to do his part, he felt compelled to go into the Calvinistic Methodist Ministry and on September 13th 1904 he became a pupil of the Newcastle Emlyn Grammar School to prepare for Trefecca Theological College.
It was only 2½ weeks after arriving that he found himself at Blaenanerch – and at a crossroads in his spiritual experience. A spiritual experience which would lead him back to the young people of his own church Moriah Loughor where he shared his experience and encouraged them to be open to God’s Spirit. Within two weeks the Welsh Revival was national news and before long, Evan Roberts and his brother Dan and his best friend Sidney were travelling the country conducting Revival Meetings and they were meetings with a difference. Meetings which broke the conventional and bi-passed the traditional – often the ministers just sat down unable to preach or even to understand what storm had arrived in their usually sedate temples.
Souls were saved, individual lives were changed and Society itself was changed.
Countless numbers of souls were saved. No records were kept of the actual number converted, but 150,000 is a very conservative estimate during the first six months.
Wales again became a God-fearing nation.
People, thousands of them, were saved. There are men and women still in our churches today whose parents or grandparents' testimonies were that they were converted in the Revival in 1904 or 1905.
Not only were individual lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, but whole communities were changed indeed society itself was changed - Wales was again a God-fearing nation.
Public houses became almost empty. Men and women who used to waste their money in getting drunk were now saving it, giving it to help their churches, buying clothes and food for their families. And not only drunkenness, but stealing and other offences grew less and less so that often a magistrate came to court and found there were no cases for him.
Men whose language had been filthy before learnt to talk purely. It is related that not only did the colliers put in a better day's work, but also that the pit ponies turned disobedient! The ponies were so used to being cursed and sworn at that they just didn't understand when orders were given in kind, clean words! The dark tunnels underground in the mines echoed with the sounds of prayer and hymns, instead of oaths and nasty jokes and gossip.
People who had been careless about paying their bills, or paying back money they had borrowed, paid up all they owed. People who had not been friends for a long time because of something that had happened in the past, forgot their quarrels and were happy together again. In fact, Evan Roberts used to say that there could be no blessing on anyone who had unkind thoughts about anyone else.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Great Moravian Revival
The Moravian revival of 1727 was thus preceded and then sustained by extraordinary praying. A spirit of grace, unity and supplications grew among them.
On 16 July, many of the community covenanted together on their own accord to meet often to pour out their hearts in prayer and hymns.
On 5 August, the Count spent the whole night in prayer with about twelve or fourteen others following a large meeting for prayer at midnight where great emotion prevailed.
On Sunday, 10 August, Pastor Rothe, while leading the service at Herrnhut, was overwhelmed by the power of the Lord about noon. He sank down into the dust before God. So did the whole congregation. They continued till midnight in prayer and singing, weeping and praying.
On Wednesday, 13 August, the Holy Spirit was poured out on them all. Their prayers were answered in ways far beyond anyone's expectations. Many of them decided to set aside certain times for continued earnest prayer. A Moravian historian wrote that Church history abounds in records of special outpourings of the Holy Ghost, and verily the thirteenth of August 1727, was a day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We saw the hand of God and His wonders, and we were all under the cloud of our fathers baptized with their Spirit. The Holy Ghost came upon us and in those days great signs and wonders took place in our midst. From that time scarcely a day passed but what we beheld His almighty workings amongst us. A great hunger after the Word of God took possession of us so that we had to have three services every day, viz. 5.0 and 7.30 a.m. and 9.0 p.m. Every one desired above everything else that the Holy Spirit might have full control. Selflove and self-will, as well as all disobedience disappeared and an overwhelming flood of grace swept us all out into the great ocean of Divine Love.
No one present could tell exactly what happened on that Wednesday morning, 13 August 1727 at the specially called Communion service. They hardly knew if they had been on earth or in heaven.
Count Nicholas Zinzendorf, the young leader of that community, gave this account many years later:
We needed to come to the Communion with a sense of the loving nearness of the Saviour. This was the great comfort which has made this day a generation ago to be a festival, because on this day twenty-seven years ago the Congregation of Herrnhut, assembled for communion (at the Berthelsdorf church) were all dissatisfied with themselves. They had quit judging each other because they had become convinced, each one, of his lack of worth in the sight of God and each felt himself at this Communion to be view of the noble countenance of the Saviour. O head so full of bruises, So full of pain and scorn. In this view of the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, their hearts told them that He would be their patron and their priest who was at once changing their tears into oil of gladness and their misery into happiness. This firm confidence changed them in a single moment into happy people which they are to this day, and into their happiness they have since led may thousands of others through the memory and help which the heavenly grace once given to themselves, so many thousand times confirmed to them since then .
Zinzendorf described it as 'a sense of the nearness of Christ' given to everyone present, and also to others of their community who were working elsewhere at the time.
The congregation was young. Zinzendorf, the human leader, was 27, which was about the average age of the group.
On 26 August, twentyfour men and twentyfour women covenanted together to continue praying in intervals of one hour each, day and night, each hour allocated by lots to different people.
On 27 August, this new regulation began. Others joined the intercessors and the number involved increased to seventyseven. They all carefully observed the hour which had been appointed for them. The intercessors had a weekly meeting where prayer needs were given to them.
The children, also touched powerfully by God, began a similar plan among themselves. Those who heard their infant supplications were deeply moved. The children's prayers and supplications had a powerful effect on the whole community
That astonishing prayer meeting beginning in 1727 went on for one hundred years. It was unique. Known as the Hourly Intercession, it involved relays of men and women in prayer without ceasing made to God. That prayer also led to action, especially evangelism. More than one hundred missionaries left that village community in the next twentyfive years, all constantly supported in prayer.
On 16 July, many of the community covenanted together on their own accord to meet often to pour out their hearts in prayer and hymns.
On 5 August, the Count spent the whole night in prayer with about twelve or fourteen others following a large meeting for prayer at midnight where great emotion prevailed.
On Sunday, 10 August, Pastor Rothe, while leading the service at Herrnhut, was overwhelmed by the power of the Lord about noon. He sank down into the dust before God. So did the whole congregation. They continued till midnight in prayer and singing, weeping and praying.
On Wednesday, 13 August, the Holy Spirit was poured out on them all. Their prayers were answered in ways far beyond anyone's expectations. Many of them decided to set aside certain times for continued earnest prayer. A Moravian historian wrote that Church history abounds in records of special outpourings of the Holy Ghost, and verily the thirteenth of August 1727, was a day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We saw the hand of God and His wonders, and we were all under the cloud of our fathers baptized with their Spirit. The Holy Ghost came upon us and in those days great signs and wonders took place in our midst. From that time scarcely a day passed but what we beheld His almighty workings amongst us. A great hunger after the Word of God took possession of us so that we had to have three services every day, viz. 5.0 and 7.30 a.m. and 9.0 p.m. Every one desired above everything else that the Holy Spirit might have full control. Selflove and self-will, as well as all disobedience disappeared and an overwhelming flood of grace swept us all out into the great ocean of Divine Love.
No one present could tell exactly what happened on that Wednesday morning, 13 August 1727 at the specially called Communion service. They hardly knew if they had been on earth or in heaven.
Count Nicholas Zinzendorf, the young leader of that community, gave this account many years later:
We needed to come to the Communion with a sense of the loving nearness of the Saviour. This was the great comfort which has made this day a generation ago to be a festival, because on this day twenty-seven years ago the Congregation of Herrnhut, assembled for communion (at the Berthelsdorf church) were all dissatisfied with themselves. They had quit judging each other because they had become convinced, each one, of his lack of worth in the sight of God and each felt himself at this Communion to be view of the noble countenance of the Saviour. O head so full of bruises, So full of pain and scorn. In this view of the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, their hearts told them that He would be their patron and their priest who was at once changing their tears into oil of gladness and their misery into happiness. This firm confidence changed them in a single moment into happy people which they are to this day, and into their happiness they have since led may thousands of others through the memory and help which the heavenly grace once given to themselves, so many thousand times confirmed to them since then .
Zinzendorf described it as 'a sense of the nearness of Christ' given to everyone present, and also to others of their community who were working elsewhere at the time.
The congregation was young. Zinzendorf, the human leader, was 27, which was about the average age of the group.
On 26 August, twentyfour men and twentyfour women covenanted together to continue praying in intervals of one hour each, day and night, each hour allocated by lots to different people.
On 27 August, this new regulation began. Others joined the intercessors and the number involved increased to seventyseven. They all carefully observed the hour which had been appointed for them. The intercessors had a weekly meeting where prayer needs were given to them.
The children, also touched powerfully by God, began a similar plan among themselves. Those who heard their infant supplications were deeply moved. The children's prayers and supplications had a powerful effect on the whole community
That astonishing prayer meeting beginning in 1727 went on for one hundred years. It was unique. Known as the Hourly Intercession, it involved relays of men and women in prayer without ceasing made to God. That prayer also led to action, especially evangelism. More than one hundred missionaries left that village community in the next twentyfive years, all constantly supported in prayer.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
walking on water
Creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Water longs to be walked on again and i long to walk on water. To do the impossible, to see the impossible being done, to live a life of faith.
I don't want to just read the Bible but to live in the Bible, to see the Bible unfolding before my very eyes, the dead raised, blind see, lame walk, deaf hear, demons cast out, whole nations saved!
Jesus promised greater works and greater works i want to see. Cancer must be broken off people's lives, food must be multiplied to feed the poor and hungry. Revival must come to whole cities and nations!
Life is too short to be mundane and predictable.
I don't want to just read the Bible but to live in the Bible, to see the Bible unfolding before my very eyes, the dead raised, blind see, lame walk, deaf hear, demons cast out, whole nations saved!
Jesus promised greater works and greater works i want to see. Cancer must be broken off people's lives, food must be multiplied to feed the poor and hungry. Revival must come to whole cities and nations!
Life is too short to be mundane and predictable.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
4 Keys to Empowering Youth To Move In The Supernatural
By Ps Banning Liebscher
Many pastors long to see their youth and young adults walk in power, healing and the prophetic, especially outside the church. No longer satisfied to build traditional youth ministries, they are stirred to impact their cities and regions. They long to see nearby campuses saturated in God’s glory, lives surrendered to Jesus and a culture reflecting the kingdom of God. For this vision to become a reality, however, they usually need a different set of tools. That’s why one of the most frequent questions I get from youth pastors is: “How can I release the supernatural in my ministry?”
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus makes it clear that one of the main keys to seeing God’s glory invade a city is a people shining their light—o those around encounter their works. That word works isn’t referring to everyday deeds, but rather what Jesus demonstrated throughout His ministry as the sick were healed, dead raised, lame walked and blind received sight. As we manifest God’s
power by laying hands on the diseased, prophesying over the broken and radically loving the lonely, our light will blaze through the darkness.
If we’re going to empower young people to transform cities and campuses for Jesus, our methods must move beyond holding events to equipping lifestyles. As grateful as I am for the testimonies of the supernatural at our conferences, I’m only truly satisfied when I see these encounters multiply in and through the lives of the attendees when they return home. Though we’re still learning every day how to do this, here are a few keys we’ve discovered along the way that are especially pertinent to pastors.
1. Demonstrate God’s extravagant love. Healing, prophetic ministry, and signs and wonders are all extremely exhilarating. It’s an amazing experience when you lay hands on someone with scoliosis and watch as his back literally straightens out. As healings and prophecy begin to flow, however, it’s just as crucial that we contend for love toremain the core reason and motivation for ministering in power. Galatians 5:6 tells us that faith works through love. Faith to demonstrate the power of God flows through love. The kingdom we represent is founded in love, and we are called to display it not only in word, but also in power (see 1 Cor. 4:20). Signs and wonders are to point people toward a greater reality: the extravagant love of God. If we don’t equip our youth and young adults to ground their walk in love, healing becomes just another fad that’s temporarily fun, but with no lasting effect.
2. Teach that the anointing is for everyone. Whether your spiritual hero is John G. Lake, Oral Roberts or Kathryn Kuhlman, know that that same level of anointing is available to all who are hungry for it. My senior pastor, Bill Johnson, describes it this way: “God gives certain individuals a ‘spike’ in human experience, not so they can merely gather people around themselves to minister to them, but that they would be positioned with favor to equip the saints, so that their ‘high point’ becomes the new norm.” The anointing is available for everyone—young and old, extrovert and introvert, new and mature Christian. And as pastors, it’s a matter of nurturing that anointing when we ...
3. Make room. Our young people must be given the opportunity to step out in the anointing. Whether it’s having them pray for one another during a meeting or on their campuses, they need frequent opportunities to experience this reality. At our church we intentionally make room for the supernatural. In every service we pray for the sick and expect miracles. We have this same focus with the youth ministry, where my leaders and I model it and do it with the youth. We regularly give part of every meeting for words of knowledge, healing prayer, prophetic opportunities, etc.
I encourage you to reassess your agenda and rearrange your schedule to offer as many occasions as possible for your young people to lay hands on those in need of a physical healing. The more you make room for it in their lives, the more it will happen naturally elsewhere and become a lifestyle.
4. Develop a culture of risk. Recently a group of university students were frustrated by their lack of breakthroughs in seeing healing. These young adults were passionately “pressing in” to see healing, but never actually “stepping out” to pray for people. They were crying out for God to move—but they weren’t moving! Their mindset was one I see frequently: “If we persevere long enough in prayer, God’s anointing will surely fall from heaven and we’ll obtain results.” Although I firmly believe we need to reach for a greater anointing, we each have an anointing to minister supernaturally available right now. But it requires us to position ourselves to take risks. When you’re faithful with what you currently have, the Lord entrusts you with more. As leaders we are responsible for nurturing a ministry environment that both encourages and necessitates risk. In the midst of their insecurities, students thrive when we come alongside and call out the greatness in them as they take risks in the supernatural. If we expect young people to take such risks outside the walls of the church, we must give them opportunities inside the church to develop. And as they learn to venture out within in a safe environment, their
confidence grows in public.
For example, train your young people in healing and the prophetic, and then push them to give words of knowledge or prophesy over their peers. When someone needs healing, ask your students to pray for the person. They might be scared and nervous, but stand with them and champion their courage.
You’ll likely find that many are afraid to fail. This is one of the main reasons why many youth and young adults never see God’s power demonstrated in their lives. They are frozen by the thought, “What if I step out and nothing happens?” This fear must be overcome. Strengthen them to conquer this fear.
Many times the results we seek are on the other side of persistence. I’ve heard that John Wimber prayed for 1,000 people before he saw his first breakthrough in healing. The more young people take risks and God shows up in answer to their prayers, the more they will mature into expressing a supernatural lifestyle.
Banning Liebscher is the director of Jesus Culture, Youth Ministry of Bethel Church at Redding, California, along with his wife, SeaJay.
Many pastors long to see their youth and young adults walk in power, healing and the prophetic, especially outside the church. No longer satisfied to build traditional youth ministries, they are stirred to impact their cities and regions. They long to see nearby campuses saturated in God’s glory, lives surrendered to Jesus and a culture reflecting the kingdom of God. For this vision to become a reality, however, they usually need a different set of tools. That’s why one of the most frequent questions I get from youth pastors is: “How can I release the supernatural in my ministry?”
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus makes it clear that one of the main keys to seeing God’s glory invade a city is a people shining their light—o those around encounter their works. That word works isn’t referring to everyday deeds, but rather what Jesus demonstrated throughout His ministry as the sick were healed, dead raised, lame walked and blind received sight. As we manifest God’s
power by laying hands on the diseased, prophesying over the broken and radically loving the lonely, our light will blaze through the darkness.
If we’re going to empower young people to transform cities and campuses for Jesus, our methods must move beyond holding events to equipping lifestyles. As grateful as I am for the testimonies of the supernatural at our conferences, I’m only truly satisfied when I see these encounters multiply in and through the lives of the attendees when they return home. Though we’re still learning every day how to do this, here are a few keys we’ve discovered along the way that are especially pertinent to pastors.
1. Demonstrate God’s extravagant love. Healing, prophetic ministry, and signs and wonders are all extremely exhilarating. It’s an amazing experience when you lay hands on someone with scoliosis and watch as his back literally straightens out. As healings and prophecy begin to flow, however, it’s just as crucial that we contend for love toremain the core reason and motivation for ministering in power. Galatians 5:6 tells us that faith works through love. Faith to demonstrate the power of God flows through love. The kingdom we represent is founded in love, and we are called to display it not only in word, but also in power (see 1 Cor. 4:20). Signs and wonders are to point people toward a greater reality: the extravagant love of God. If we don’t equip our youth and young adults to ground their walk in love, healing becomes just another fad that’s temporarily fun, but with no lasting effect.
2. Teach that the anointing is for everyone. Whether your spiritual hero is John G. Lake, Oral Roberts or Kathryn Kuhlman, know that that same level of anointing is available to all who are hungry for it. My senior pastor, Bill Johnson, describes it this way: “God gives certain individuals a ‘spike’ in human experience, not so they can merely gather people around themselves to minister to them, but that they would be positioned with favor to equip the saints, so that their ‘high point’ becomes the new norm.” The anointing is available for everyone—young and old, extrovert and introvert, new and mature Christian. And as pastors, it’s a matter of nurturing that anointing when we ...
3. Make room. Our young people must be given the opportunity to step out in the anointing. Whether it’s having them pray for one another during a meeting or on their campuses, they need frequent opportunities to experience this reality. At our church we intentionally make room for the supernatural. In every service we pray for the sick and expect miracles. We have this same focus with the youth ministry, where my leaders and I model it and do it with the youth. We regularly give part of every meeting for words of knowledge, healing prayer, prophetic opportunities, etc.
I encourage you to reassess your agenda and rearrange your schedule to offer as many occasions as possible for your young people to lay hands on those in need of a physical healing. The more you make room for it in their lives, the more it will happen naturally elsewhere and become a lifestyle.
4. Develop a culture of risk. Recently a group of university students were frustrated by their lack of breakthroughs in seeing healing. These young adults were passionately “pressing in” to see healing, but never actually “stepping out” to pray for people. They were crying out for God to move—but they weren’t moving! Their mindset was one I see frequently: “If we persevere long enough in prayer, God’s anointing will surely fall from heaven and we’ll obtain results.” Although I firmly believe we need to reach for a greater anointing, we each have an anointing to minister supernaturally available right now. But it requires us to position ourselves to take risks. When you’re faithful with what you currently have, the Lord entrusts you with more. As leaders we are responsible for nurturing a ministry environment that both encourages and necessitates risk. In the midst of their insecurities, students thrive when we come alongside and call out the greatness in them as they take risks in the supernatural. If we expect young people to take such risks outside the walls of the church, we must give them opportunities inside the church to develop. And as they learn to venture out within in a safe environment, their
confidence grows in public.
For example, train your young people in healing and the prophetic, and then push them to give words of knowledge or prophesy over their peers. When someone needs healing, ask your students to pray for the person. They might be scared and nervous, but stand with them and champion their courage.
You’ll likely find that many are afraid to fail. This is one of the main reasons why many youth and young adults never see God’s power demonstrated in their lives. They are frozen by the thought, “What if I step out and nothing happens?” This fear must be overcome. Strengthen them to conquer this fear.
Many times the results we seek are on the other side of persistence. I’ve heard that John Wimber prayed for 1,000 people before he saw his first breakthrough in healing. The more young people take risks and God shows up in answer to their prayers, the more they will mature into expressing a supernatural lifestyle.
Banning Liebscher is the director of Jesus Culture, Youth Ministry of Bethel Church at Redding, California, along with his wife, SeaJay.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Yay God!!
What a glorious day!
Well, it depends on how you see it. I think it's glorious.
The depth of what the Lord has done for us on the cross.
The depth of His redemption.
The depth of His restoration.
The depth of His love, grace and mercy.
The depth of His victory.
It's so fulfilling when you see the life changed:
"today i feel such a release and i feel different. my mother ask me how come i am different today."
To use the words of Austin, "I CANNOT TAKE IT!!!"
Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!
Well, it depends on how you see it. I think it's glorious.
The depth of what the Lord has done for us on the cross.
The depth of His redemption.
The depth of His restoration.
The depth of His love, grace and mercy.
The depth of His victory.
It's so fulfilling when you see the life changed:
"today i feel such a release and i feel different. my mother ask me how come i am different today."
To use the words of Austin, "I CANNOT TAKE IT!!!"
Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The revival that never ends.
A young woman is Redding, California, saw herself in the arms of the Father in a vision. She saw the Heavenly Father reading a book. The Father asked her, "Do you want to know what I'm reading?" She said, "Yes!" The Father said, "I am reading the book on revivals. Do you want me to read to you?" She said, "Yes!" He said, "What would you like for Me to read?" She said, "Read to me about the revival of the 2000s, not the 1800s or 1900s!" The Father said, "Oh! You mean the one that never ended?"
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Poverty
There's a power in poverty that breaks principalities
And brings the authorities down to their knees
There's a brewing frustration and ageless temptation
To fight for control by some manipulation
But the God of the kingdoms and the God of the Nations
The God of creation sends His revelation
Through the homeless and penniless Jesus the son
The poor will inherit the Kingdom to come
Where will we turn when our world falls apart
And all of the treasures we've stored in our barns
Can't buy the Kingdom of God?
Who will we praise when we've praised all our lives
Men who build Kingdoms and men who build fame
What will we fear when all that remains
Is God on His throne, with a child in His arms, and love in His eyes
And the sound of His heart cries
And brings the authorities down to their knees
There's a brewing frustration and ageless temptation
To fight for control by some manipulation
But the God of the kingdoms and the God of the Nations
The God of creation sends His revelation
Through the homeless and penniless Jesus the son
The poor will inherit the Kingdom to come
Where will we turn when our world falls apart
And all of the treasures we've stored in our barns
Can't buy the Kingdom of God?
Who will we praise when we've praised all our lives
Men who build Kingdoms and men who build fame
What will we fear when all that remains
Is God on His throne, with a child in His arms, and love in His eyes
And the sound of His heart cries
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Day 8, 20th April 2009
Shopping, great fellowship, great food and then it's back home for us. Looking forward to coming again.55 million souls!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Day 7, 19th April 2009
It's truly awesome just to worship God together with the church. They are a worshipping church and a worshipping church will get the attention of the Eagle! It's so great to see so many hungry people in that nation gathered together on a Sunday morning. We spoke at the 3 services, had a great time in the presence of God and fellowshipping with the saints, not forgetting the superb meals prepared by the pastor's wife.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Day 6, April 18th 2009
It was the first day of the week we had more than 5 hours to sleep. The whole of Saturday morning was free so we can wake up a bit later, enjoyed our buffet breakfast before we went shopping. The moment you step out of the nice Parkroyal Hotel, poverty greets you in the face. Just minutes from the Parkroyal and the posh Traders Hotel is a slum hidden behind a high wall, what a contrast. I can still remember how to walk to the market from the hotel. We bought nice cheap T-shirts and some souvenirs before we headed back to the hotel for some "body maintenance" to prepare for the youth service in the evening. It's great to be back at the church worshipping with the youths. God wants the youths to be plugged into Him 24/7 and not just at a camp or major event. He moved in such an amazing, convicting the hearts of the people to keep the fire burning everyday of their lives. After the service, we had a nice dinner and fellowship with the leaders at the J-O stall.Tuesday, May 5, 2009
"Desperate" Camp Day 5, April 17th 2009
Had a awesome time worshipping together with the Burmese brethren in the morning worship time. The various workshops were powerful as usual. Left the place without before lunch time to send Ps James and Josiah back to the hotel to check out as they are returning today on the afternoon flight. Had a brief respite from the hot weather at the airport. It rained heavily on our way back to the camp site due to a cyclone in nearby Bangladesh. The guys were actually playing and bathing in the rain together with the male leaders and campers, they are half Burmese already! I spoke on supernatural courage during the last night session. The campers were still hungry for more of God despite it being the last session. God moved powerfully and deposited in the hearts of the young people a burden to see their nation saved. After such a memorable and enjoyable camp, we felt really close to the youths by now, it was a little sad to come to the end of the camp. After some photo taking we left for the hotel for a much needed rest.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
"Desperate" Camp Day 4, April 16th 2009
Games with the campers were really fun. They were the most sporting and enthusiastic group of campers ever! What God was doing at this camp was just amazing as well! The spiritual realm was opened up to many people. Some saw angels worshipping together with us, others saw their unsaved loved ones on their way to hell, yet another saw the Lord Himself walking among us and laying hands on everyone. Ps James prayed prophetically and the Spirit of God literally fell upon us at the night rally. People were getting set free from bondages, hearts set on fire. Many were getting visions and visitations from the Lord, some were so "drunk" in the Spirit that they couldn't even get up till late into the night. Even those who just got saved during the camp were on their faces weeping before God. The glory of God just broke out in that place and even all of us Singaporeans were on our faces crying our eyes out. The heavens are open over that nation!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
"Desperate" Camp Day 3, April 15th 2009
Take a look at the picture of the vehicle we rode in and you will know why those who sat behind will get wet. Ps James taught at the Salvation class this morning so i went over to teach the discipleship class. It was such an experience worshipping with them. They are just so passionate and hungry for God. Even in the different morning classes God was moving and touching lives. The campers were encountering God and weeping before God even in the teaching classes. What an awesome God we serve! Ps James spoke at the night rally on the fire of God. It was really funny yet powerful. The fire of God fell during the altar call, people received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time. Hearts were set on fire for Jesus. The fire of God fell upon a shy and quiet girl. She began to worship and cry out at the top of her voice. The Spirit of God was still touching many till late into the night in the bunks.
"Desperate" Camp Day 2, April 14th 2009
Woke up at 5.30am, rushed through our buffet breakfast and left for the campsite. Campers were divided into 3 groups for the morning sessions. Salvation class for the non-believers and new believers. Believers class for the growing believers and Discipleship class for the growing disciples. I taught at the salvation class, Joel spoke at the Believers class and Andre and Andrew taught at the Discipleship class. Had a simple yet very enjoyable lunch with the camp committee. Left for the airport immediately after lunch with Joseph to pick up Ps James and Josiah. Left the guys to run the games. Ps James got a very wet welcome from a group of youths who would not let our vehicle pass until they had gotten us wet. The message for the night was "Daniel the Overcomer" Ps James was funny, engaging yet powerful and convicting at the same time. It's going to be a life transforming camp. "Desperate" Camp Day 1, April 13th 2009
Reached at about 4pm. Checked in quickly at Parkroyal then left for the campsite, 1.5 hours away. It was the first day of water festival so poor Andrew, Andre and Joel got wet already. I sat in front with the windows wound up so...haha. Reached the campsite at about 7.30pm. There were about 70 plus youths at the camp. I spoke on the 4 characteristics of desperate people. The people were so hungry for God, it's inspiring. The long, bumpy and dusty ride back to Parkroyal after the session left our faces, hair and nostrils black. No time for dinner today so we had to order room service, amazing pizza! Had 5 hours to sleep...
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
"You shall receive power..."
What does Acts 1:8 say? "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." It says "you shall receive power", power to do what? Invite people to church? Some might argue against this but i don't even think we need power to invite people to church. Have great programs, great publicity and maybe some free food, people will come to church!
The Holy Spirit was upon Jesus when He was on earth. He had power. What did He do everywhere He went? Can you imagine Jesus going up to blind Bartimaeus and saying, "Bart, come with Me to our service this sunday, there is a great anointing for healing in our temple, you will receive your healing then."? Imagine Jesus saying to Zacchaeus, "Zach, come down from that tree, come to our cell meeting at Peter's house on saturday, your life will be changed, you will no longer love money." Jesus had power and He provided the breakthrough for these people right there and then. He broke the power of sin and infirmity, He broke the power of the devil over people's lives right there and then.
If we are baptised in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit has come upon us, according to His word in Acts 1:8, we have power. Acts 10:38 says, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Jesus had power to undo the works of the devil upon people's lives. We have power, the same power to undo the works of the enemy in people's lives. We have power and we don't know it, we don't realise it. We have power to represent Jesus, bring heaven to earth, break the devil's hold upon people's lives wherever we go!
What do we do when we hear people falling into sexual immorality, addictions etc? What happens when we hear of people broken by diseases and infirmities? We have power to break the enemy's hold upon their lives! Are there people struggling with pornography, falling into sexual immorality in heaven? No! Are there sicknesses, diseases, cancer, blindness, mental illnesses in heaven? No! We are called to bring heaven to earth. That is our assignment. If there are things happening on earth that are not happening in heaven, they must stop.
Luke, you wrote the book of Luke and you wrote the book of Acts. Why didn't you mention Jesus saying "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." in Luke 24? Why did you include this verse in Acts but not in Luke? Exactly, because Acts is the book of Acts, the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1:8 is the perfect introduction to the book of Acts, we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us, the beginning of us taking action to break the power of darkness. Peter preached and 3000 got saved, "you shall receive power..." Peter and John healed the lame man at gate Beautiful, "you shall receive power..." The shadow of Peter healed the sick, "you shall receive power..." Stephen, Philip performing great miracles, "you shall receive power..." Dorcas rose from the dead, "you shall receive power..." Paul and Silas delivered from the dungeon, "you shall receive power..." Paul casting out the demon of divination from the girl, "you shall receive power..."
Bill Johnson said it this way, "You've probably heard a brother or sister in the Lord say, 'you should read this book. It's really good but you've got to be careful because the guy has a strange doctrine on such and such point.' But has anyone ever given you a book or tape and said, 'This guy's teaching is great, but be careful because he has never raised the dead. Cancer doesn't leave people's bodies when he prays.'?"
Be careful when you read this post, because i have not seen cancer healed, blind eyes open, the dead raise, the lame walk, demons fleeing from people's lives, sin, addictions, infirmities breaking off people's lives when i pray for them, yet...
The Holy Spirit was upon Jesus when He was on earth. He had power. What did He do everywhere He went? Can you imagine Jesus going up to blind Bartimaeus and saying, "Bart, come with Me to our service this sunday, there is a great anointing for healing in our temple, you will receive your healing then."? Imagine Jesus saying to Zacchaeus, "Zach, come down from that tree, come to our cell meeting at Peter's house on saturday, your life will be changed, you will no longer love money." Jesus had power and He provided the breakthrough for these people right there and then. He broke the power of sin and infirmity, He broke the power of the devil over people's lives right there and then.
If we are baptised in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit has come upon us, according to His word in Acts 1:8, we have power. Acts 10:38 says, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Jesus had power to undo the works of the devil upon people's lives. We have power, the same power to undo the works of the enemy in people's lives. We have power and we don't know it, we don't realise it. We have power to represent Jesus, bring heaven to earth, break the devil's hold upon people's lives wherever we go!
What do we do when we hear people falling into sexual immorality, addictions etc? What happens when we hear of people broken by diseases and infirmities? We have power to break the enemy's hold upon their lives! Are there people struggling with pornography, falling into sexual immorality in heaven? No! Are there sicknesses, diseases, cancer, blindness, mental illnesses in heaven? No! We are called to bring heaven to earth. That is our assignment. If there are things happening on earth that are not happening in heaven, they must stop.
Luke, you wrote the book of Luke and you wrote the book of Acts. Why didn't you mention Jesus saying "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." in Luke 24? Why did you include this verse in Acts but not in Luke? Exactly, because Acts is the book of Acts, the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 1:8 is the perfect introduction to the book of Acts, we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us, the beginning of us taking action to break the power of darkness. Peter preached and 3000 got saved, "you shall receive power..." Peter and John healed the lame man at gate Beautiful, "you shall receive power..." The shadow of Peter healed the sick, "you shall receive power..." Stephen, Philip performing great miracles, "you shall receive power..." Dorcas rose from the dead, "you shall receive power..." Paul and Silas delivered from the dungeon, "you shall receive power..." Paul casting out the demon of divination from the girl, "you shall receive power..."
Bill Johnson said it this way, "You've probably heard a brother or sister in the Lord say, 'you should read this book. It's really good but you've got to be careful because the guy has a strange doctrine on such and such point.' But has anyone ever given you a book or tape and said, 'This guy's teaching is great, but be careful because he has never raised the dead. Cancer doesn't leave people's bodies when he prays.'?"
Be careful when you read this post, because i have not seen cancer healed, blind eyes open, the dead raise, the lame walk, demons fleeing from people's lives, sin, addictions, infirmities breaking off people's lives when i pray for them, yet...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Loving God more and loving people more..
We admire them, admire what they are doing, read about them, visit their blog, talk about them, listen to their sermons, look at the pictures of what they are doing............it's time we do what they are doing...see the mircales they are seeing....experience God the way they are experiencing Him...
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