God Breaking In: A Model for Revival

I’m back with my friends in S**lk*t attending the Sunday gathering. It couldn’t be more different than the service I went to in my city a few weeks ago. It’s not just different because this meeting takes place in the open air as opposed to a large ornate church building. It’s not just that people are sitting on the ground instead of in hard wooden pews. It’s not just that the pastor wears a simple button down shirt and dress pants, instead of a flowing white robe. The difference is that God is here. He is in our midst in a manifest way and there is no way to deny His presence or His power.

Jesus’ disciples were quite distraught when they started to get what he was saying about going back to the Father.

“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

Jesus assured them that it was better if he went away! How could that be possible? Because after Jesus went to be with the Father he sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a consolation prize. “Oh sorry, you can’t have Jesus for the time being, so just have the Holy Spirit.” In contrast, the Holy Spirit is powerful, and Jesus himself promised us that after he himself went to the Father, we would do greater works than even he had done on the earth.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-13)

So then what’s the catch here? Jesus said, “anyone who has faith in me” will do what he was doing while he was on earth and MORE. Why don’t we see that happening? Why don’t we see signs and wonders in our midst today? Well, we don’t have simply because we don’t ask. We don’t expect these things to happen because we may not see them happening in our congregations. Does that mean they don’t happen? No. On the contrary, this is God’s model for revival in the land. If it is not happening, there is something wrong. If the model of church that we have in the New Testament is a far cry from what our ministry looks like, we have some reorganization to do.
As I sat at the Sunday meeting, sweating in my yellow plastic chair, I watched as people lined up to share testimonies after the Word had been preached. An old woman praises God for healing her of blindness the previous Sunday. A little girl of about seven, previously mute, gets up and makes her first public speech, praising God for giving her voice. Her voice was a bit raspy and it seemed as if her vocal chords were stiff, like during a cold, but she was talking. Another woman who had been partially blind praises God for healing her through the prayers of the saints. Finally, an impassioned woman tells the story of how after having two sons she remained barren for 10 years. Some members of the intercessory team had prayed for God fill her womb again, and this Sunday she stood on the stage holding her newborn baby daughter and offering praise to God. This same woman had converted from Islam and left her family, and in this society all of her earthly security, when she came to know Christ.

After the testimonies and some more prayer, we launch into another time of worship. I felt ashamed of myself for being more concerned with the heat than praising God for the testimonies of his grace. I was literally ready to pass out and felt as if my cotton dupatta (scarf used for covering the head and upper body) was a woolen winter hat made for keeping the heat in. I “accidentally” let my dupatta fall to my shoulders, hoping that some of the heat might escape in the thirty seconds before I put it back on. I looked out at all the people, men and women, young and old, mostly dirt poor but in their nicest clothes, who have gathered together to worship the King. Some are standing with hands raised up to heaven. Men are dancing, and women are swaying a bit to the rhythm. Some have their heads bowed to their knees. All are praying passionately and praising God for all that he has done here. They come expectant and they ask for more. The people can not stop praising God as the worship leader launches into a chorus of “Hallelujah.” For over thirty minutes the people sang the words “Hallelujah” over and over again, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the presence of the Almighty God. They are hungry for God and they have labored in prayer asking for what he is doing amongst them. Muslims are coming to a saving relationship with Christ. Those who were only Christian by name are becoming born again. God is transforming this community.

The more and more that I see and hear about how God is moving throughout the earth, the more I am convinced that God never meant the gospel to go forth without the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, yes, we say that the gospel itself has power, and it does as Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) The gospel message is the only message with the power to transform our hearts and minds and allow us to enter into a right relationship with God. This is true, but we also see in the Word that signs, wonder, healings, prophecy, and deliverance should come hand in hand when we bring the gospel. It is not that is beyond God to bring people into the kingdom without physical displays of his power, but it is in His mercy to show his power in order to show the greatness of his name. God’s primary goal is to glorify himself and God is glorified when a lame man walks in the name of Jesus. God is glorified when a blind woman comes to see. God is glorified when a possessed man is set free. God is glorified when those who have witnessed his power come into a saving relationship with him. Jesus came with miracles, signs and wonders, and his disciples followed suit when they brought forth the message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Sadly, I have to decline an invitation to go pray at a hospital for a demon possessed man, as I must be heading back on the early bus in order to teach my class. If someone in your church asked you to go pray for a demon possessed man, would you go? What would you think? It would be quite out of the ordinary in the typical American church. But here, where the people expect great and mighty things, it is commonplace. People are delivered from demons each week at the evening gathering and in people’s homes. The influence and possession of demons is real, and some are the kind that go out only by prayer and fasting. People are not only delivered from their torment, but they are delivered from their sin and brought into a saving relationship with Christ Jesus. This is the gospel. We need to tell those demons to "chordo!" (come out!) This is the power of God who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Do we really believe that? Do we pray into it? If not, it’s time to start. If we do, we can’t stop pressing in until God breaks in. He is faithful and He will do it. It is in his heart to glorify himself and to make his name known throughout all the earth.

Father, we believe that you are all powerful. We praise you for the mighty works you have done throughout history. We praise you for the mighty works recorded in your word. God, we ask that you would come and bring revival to our area. We ask that you would manifest yourself. That you would ARISE and show your power. Just as the early church prayed in Acts 4 and the place was shaken, we ask that you would shake this place. We ask that you would shake this nation. We ask that you would raise up your church as a house of prayer. We ask that you would raise up intercessors who pray in accordance with your heart. We ask that you would stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders in the name of your Holy servant Jesus. Humble your saints that we may be used by you. God do not let us settle for anything less than “greater works than these.” You promised that anyone who has faith would do even greater works that you did while on earth, not for our own fame or pride, but for the glory of your name. Release the power of the anointing on your saints. Let us not be satisfied with anything less than ALL that you have for us. Let us press in and press on for the rest of our days. Let us not be satisfied when we come to church for “Sunday morning.” Let us gather together and CRY OUT for your presence and your healing hand. If we do not hear your voice, let us CRY OUT to hear it, for prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. Let us not be busy with ministries, models, or programs, but instead let us follow your model of revival. Falling on our knees with fasting, weeping and mourning, calling you to come and show your face.