Author Archives: Dr. Mike

-Another Muslim Comes to Christ Via Vision

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I found this over at Persecution Blog, the original is from Reuters. Testimonies like this never really get old and bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart every time:

Amin said he became aware of Jesus Christ after dreaming that a figure dressed in a white robe approached him in a forest and handed him a Bible.

“When I told my father I had become a Christian he just stared at me without speaking. Then he said: ‘From now on, you are not my son. Go to those people, let them feed you and give you a home — we’ll see who cares for you’,” said Amin.

He left town, stopped his studies and now lives from translation work offered by a Christian missionary group.

Response: Thousands of Muslims are coming to Christ every year through dreams and visions. It is a radical decision for these folks when they come out of the closet and declare their new faith in Jesus. All are rejected by their families, most suffer some kind of persecution, and many even face death.

These folk really know first hand what Christmas is all about and received the gift of his Son Jesus regardless of the consequences.           

-Defining Revival?

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Here’s a great article from MinistryToday by Norman Benz: “Defining Revival“

Part 1: What’s in a Word?

Norman Benz observes that:

“Revival is always extraordinary, beyond what we consider to be the normal work of God.”

Then he proceeds to identify what revival isn’t.

Part 1 continues with has a number of observations and statements about revival from different folks like Raymond Ortlund, John Armstrong, Jonathan Edwards, Solomon Stoddard, Richard Owen Roberts, Stephen Olford, J. Edwin Orr, Malcolm McDow, James Burns, and Robert Coleman.

My favorite is from  Raymond Ortlund who states that revival is when:

“God comes down to us.” “a season in the life of the church when God causes the normal ministry of the gospel to surge forward with extraordinary spiritual power. … What sets revival apart is simply that our usual efforts greatly accelerate in their spiritual effects.”

Part 2: The Six Characteristics of Revival

In Part 2 Norman Benz lists six characteristics of revival:

1) Revival is the cooperative effort of mankind with God.

2) Revival is like an ocean wave.

3) Revival is characterized by the extraordinary speed with which it spreads.

4) Revival often follows a spiritual decline in the church and community.

5) Revival touches both the intellect and emotions as people are drawn to God.

6) Revival produces extraordinary results.

The Conclusion:

“When revival comes, a sovereign blessing occurs that is deep and lasting. The kingdom is advanced and the Word is more deeply rooted in the people”s lives. Revival is always the return of fresh life to the people of God. So while God is in control and we are the recipients of his gifts and blessings, He receives all the glory.”

Response: If you are interested in revival, the article is a must read. The six characteristics and the explanations under each are well worth the price of your time.

We are in a spiritual decline in the church and in this nation and all of the Western world. We’re in desperate need of revival and most of the church doesn’t even recognize it. Come Holy Spirit–bring revival to this land once more.           

-One More Look at Lakeland?

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(-Todd Bentley via Wikipedia)

Here’s a link to one more article by J. Lee Grady about Lakeland (Link NLA): 

“20/20 Hindsight: What I Hope We Learned From the Lakeland Revival”

Grady lists a few points that he hopes that we can agree on.  Some lessons he hopes we have learned from the Lakeland experience:

Lesson #1: Accountability. Accountability. Accountability.

Lesson #2: The one-man show is over.

Lesson #3: Chill out.

Lesson #4: Character is more important than anointing.

Lesson #5: Lay hands on no man quickly.

Lesson #6: You can’t have revival without repentance.

He also provides a link to a new statement (Nov.28) by the directors of Fresh Fire Ministries on Todd Bentley.

Response: Re: #1,2,and 6 –I am in total agreement with. Re: #4 -Character is just as important as an anointing. However, God has used flawed servants to do incredible ministries in the past. Re: #5 -Todd was not new to ministry, he had been ministering with a healing anointing for quite a few years. Who gave Todd the anointing in the first place?

The greatest disappointment to me was that it remained a one-man show that fell apart when the one man fell. I had hoped that it would just be the beginning of a move that would spread across the country and that thousands of unknown leaders would take it to another level. 

The statement by Fresh Fire is sad to say the least. We need to continue to remember Todd and particularly his family in our prayers. 

-The Story of the Bakers: "Miracles in Mozambique"

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Here’s an article posted in Ministry Today Magazine by Hope Flinchbaugh– “Miracles in Mozambique”. It tells the story of the revival started by the Bakers in Mozambique:

The deaf hear, the lame walk, the blind see, the dead are raised to life, and tens of thousands have surrendered their lives to Christ–all of this is happening in the southeast African country of Mozambique, a nation suffering the squalor of extreme poverty in the aftermath of a prolonged civil war.

When missionaries Heidi and Rolland Baker of California arrived in Mozambique in 1995, they struggled to begin a church and a dilapidated orphanage housing 80 children, a center previously run by communist leaders. Today the Bakers’ Iris Ministries (IM) cares for thousands of orphans and is approaching the point of having a church in every single village in large areas of central Mozambique and southern Malawi.

<<Read the whole article>>            

-TheCall–A Prophetic Cry for Revival

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Revival was a major subtext and focus of TheCall in San Diego on November 1st. There was a repeating call to prayer for revival in America and California during the 12 hour event. It was particularly intense during the final hour.

The significance of California in the beginning of number of major revivals and movements was cited and recalled as we looked forward to and prayed for God to move once more across this state and the entire country:

A 1890’s Holiness Movement, Azusa Street/Pentecostal Movement, Aimee Semple McPherson/Four Square Movement, Latter-Rain/Healing Movement, Bill Bright/Campus Crusade, Billy Graham/LA 1950, Jesus People Movement/Colleges/Calvary Chapel, John Wimber/Vineyard Movement…all had ties and beginnings in California.

During the last hour there was tremendous unction for revival prayer. Prophetic words were given over a call for light to spring forth from the darkness of San Francisco and Berkeley in particular.

The rebellion that typified my generation–the baby boomers, started in San Francisco in the 60’s with the Hippies and in Berkeley at the University of California.

There was a call for a new generation to rise up and reverse what happened in our American culture that started in the 60’s. A Call for revivals to spring up in San Francisco and in the California colleges and Universities, starting with Berkeley.

Interestingly, there were quite a few young folks there from the universities, probably 7-8,000 in attendance, including a student Christian group from Berkeley. The U. of California campus now has a majority student body of well disciplined Asian-American kids and lot’s of them are Christian. A real contrast to the 60’s.

The last 1/2 hour, there was a call for high school, college, and university students to dedicate themselves to God in a new more radical way, a call for prayer and fasting for revival on their campuses and in their cities.

From where I was siting, I could see the Holy Spirit blow through that group of 8-10,000 kids which was on the field standing in front of the stage–it was a sight to see–a real blessing and hope for the future.

There was a real response–followed by songs of rejoicing and celebration–which I will never forget, I’m still singing!

-TheCall -San Diego: My Experience

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I went to TheCall yesterday with the intention of only staying for part of it. Usually when I fast I get really sick but The Lord gave me incredible grace.

I didn’t feel hungry or weak nor did I get the hindering headache I usually do when I go without food for a day. Praise God, it was all grace cause it sure didn’t come by faith, I brought two sandwiches and two cans of Diet Coke along just in case–didn’t use them till on the way on the home.

I stayed for the entire 12 hours and came away invigorated. This morning I was ready to go and actually looking forward to church. I wouldn’t trade the day for anything! It was an unbelievable experience, 12 hours of prayer and worship with the Holy Spirit filling the entire stadium.            

Sights and Sounds:

According to the news reports, there were 33,000 at Qualcomm. Also, according to the paper, we were all bigoted anti-homosexuals there to spew out hate and to rant and rave for an entire day against same-sex marriage.

I guess that reporter phoned the story in without ever bothering to show up. If he did come, he must have been there between noon and 1 pm only when we were praying over Prop.8 on the California ballot—which would authorize marriage between a man and a woman only, and over-turn homosexual marriage in the state.

During that time we were joined by the Catholic Bishop of San Diego who had arranged for 1,500,000 Knights of Columbus who were committed to pray with us during that hour for California and Prop.8.

Those who showed up yesterday were an encouraging mixture of different kinds of churches and races.

The usual evangelical and Charismatic leaders were there taking turns leading us in prayer, including Dr. James Dobson and his wife Shirley.

The Black church was well represented in the stadium, with a number of pastors and worship leaders who lead us in prayer and some flat out wonderful/powerful worship music–including one group who did Christian Rap–the 10,000 or so kids on the field went crazy.

Also, there were tons of Latino Christians there –at least once an hour or so a Latino pastor would lead prayer in Spanish, also some of the worship music was in Spanish and along with some bi-lingual songs.

Everywhere I looked there were Asian Christians, Korean and Chinese pastors also lead in prayer along with a number of Asian worship leaders. A huge number of Asian kids were among the 10,000 or so down on the field.

Well that is an account of the sights and sounds, GodTV covered the event live and is planning on running replays so you might be able to catch some of it.

I found the day to be invigorating for my faith and encouraging for the future of the church in California. Stay tune, there is more–and it’s revival related!            

-October 31: Celebrate Reformation Day!

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(Church Doors in Wittenburg via Wikipedia)

No, I am not talking about trick or treating or goblins and pumpkins! This is a good time for prayer and for praising the Lord in order to balance out all of the dark festivities associated with this day in American culture.

On this Day…

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted Ninety-five Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany and began the Protestant Reformation. Now that is something to celebrate about! The beginning 0f a sovereign work of God that transformed the world.

-Hebridean Revival 1949: An Incredible Account

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(Duncan Campbell- “You met God on meadow and moorland; you met Him in the homes of the people. God seemed to be everywhere…” –running time: 10:26)

An old recording of Duncan Campbell recalling the night in 1949 when revival fell on the Isle of Lewis, Hebridean Islands, Western Scotland.

This is one of the most inspirational videos that I have ever watched! At the end I was in prayer seeking God’s face for my own nation. Anyone interested in real actual revival needs to take 10 1/2 minutes and listen to this account, it will blow you away and put you on your knees also. A good way to start the day.

-Links to articles on the Hebridean Revival 1949-1952:

The Intercessors of the Hebrides Revival of 1949

When God Stepped Down From Heaven

-Revival: It begins with You!

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Here’s part of a message by Jill Austin on revival– “You Can Transform Your Nation“(link NLA):

“Revival is not born out of mass movements but out of a series of solitary decisions. …

He is going to begin His work with you. Revival starts today. Revival starts with you.

He has hand-chosen you, before the foundations of the world, to embark on a journey into the fullness of your destiny. Do you want to be His voice rather than man’s echo? If so, will you return to Him as your first love? Remember, God must first set our hearts ablaze with radical passion for Jesus. Intimacy is what ignites revolution.

Is the presence of the living God fully taking up residence in your heart? If that has not happened, then why are you expecting that to happen in some kind of public meeting? Revival starts with you! Personal transformation must precede city transformation. Let a revolution begin today—and may it begin with you!”

Response: Lord let it begin with me, bring revival to my house and neighborhood. Let it begin with you, bring revival to your house and community. Let it begin with us Lord, bring revival to our land, in Jesus name, Amen.

-Looking for Revival: "Where is the God of Evan Roberts?"

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In his current (10/15/08) Fire in My Bones article, J. Lee Grady asks:

Where is the God of Elijah? Where is the God of Evan Roberts? Where is the true power of God that can sweep over a city and bring backslidden Christians to repentance and hardened sinners to experience the greatest miracle of all—the miracle of new birth?

Under the title- “Lord Give Us Hot Coals From Your Altar!”–Grady explores the Welch revival of 1904. A great post for everyone interested in revival to read.

He recounts how Evan Roberts often presented the same four-point plan for living the Christian life:

(1) confess all known sin

(2) deal with and get rid of anything “doubtful” in your life

(3) be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly; and

(4) confess Christ publicly

These points are still filled with anointing today just as they were in 1904.

Come Lord Jesus, send revival across this land from sea to shining sea, to the North, to the South, to the East, and to the West;  let your Spirit fill the churches and change our neighborhoods and our communities. In Jesus Name, Amen.