Category Archives: Revival

-India: Orissa Revival and Persecution

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Last Fall the world was horrified by the riots and persecution against Christians in the state of Orissa, India. Hundreds of churches and Christian businesses were destroyed, over 200 were killed, and 50,000 Christians were kicked out of their homes and villages with 30,000 going into the forests for hiding.

The problem still has not completely been resolved with the Indian Federal government dragging its heals and with the state and local authorities on the side of and actually in many cases participating in the persecution.

One good did come out of the persecution–the India Supreme Court ruled that there is “freedom of Religion” in India and all are equal under the law.

What led to the persecution? An incredible revival that saw approximately 28% of the population of Orissa converting to Christianity in a few short years. The Orissa persecution was a blowback for the major changes taking place and for the potential shift of political and economic power in the state. The Hindu radical party is heavily invested in stopping the revival at all costs.

What are the major characteristics of this revival?

1. Sign and Wonders, Miracles

2. Healings, Raising the Dead

3. Social Justice

4. Indigenous leaders and ministry

Very similar to the on-going revival in China.

-God Will Supply!

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Here’s a wonderful faith generating story from Bill Hamon and his wife Evelyn (Link NLA) telling of some tough times during the early years of their ministry in 1958 when all they had were 8 pennies and they prayed for the 8 pennies to somehow be turned into $8 so that they could go down the road to their next ministry assignment:

“In the early years, my wife, Evelyn—”Mom”—and I traveled in ministry with our son, Tim. When he was a year and a half old, we were in Muskogee, Oklahoma, doing meetings in a small country church. The congregation didn’t have a pastor, and every night after I would minister they would place a basket on the altar and say, “We know you’re all poor and you don’t have anything, but if you could find something to give to the minister, that would be a blessing.”

After about two weeks of ministering there, paying for our own food, gas and other needs, we were averaging about 50 cents per night in the offering. Even in 1958, 50 cents was not very much money.  …”

Side comment: Now some of you younger folks may not realize how much the worth of a US dollar has changed over the years. I can remember going to lots of Saturday matinee movies at the picture show in the mid 50’s as a kid with my 50 cents allowance which not only got me in the door but also a small coke and a popcorn–and I got to see 2 movies, a couple of cartoons, plus a newsreel to help you get seated! So much for the good ol’ days.

-A Revival in Dubai?

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(-Picture of Dubai by Qba from Poland via Flickr)

In most Middle Eastern Muslim dominated countries, Christians are persecuted and seldom allowed to build new churches or even remodel the ancient ones they do have. However, in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates, the government has given land and favor to Christians to build churches (Over 30).

Consequently, Dubai is home to the largest Evangelical church in all the Middle East- King’s Revival Church International which has some 7,000 members, 24 pastors, and conducts 14 services for a week, 3 in English and the rest in a variety of different languages. Most of the members are expatriates that came to the country for work and a better life.

Pastor Dr. V. Dilkumar says that their outreaches are mostly to foreigners since it is still illegal even in Dubai to proselytize Muslims and those who do convert away from Islam face harsh penalties.

Signs and Wonders

According to Pastor Dilkumar amazing miracles and healings take place at the church every week:

“That’s one of the main reasons the church has grown very much, in fact practically in every main service of ours we get people healed instantly.”

The church even publishes a monthly magazine documenting their healings, including cancers being cured, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.

Pastor Dilkumar said that it all began as part of the calling that God placed upon his heart many years ago:

“He has anointed me to preach the Gospel of Jesus and to heal the broken hearts, and to cause the blind to see, to cause the captives to be free, to proclaim the coming of the Lord.”

The church also sponsors extensive charity work and supports more than a 170 pastors serving throughout the Middle East and Asia. Praise God!           

-An Interview with Revivalist Rodney Howard-Browne

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Here’s a great interview with Rodney Howard-Browne from MinistryToday magazine online. He talks about the American church and about revival. When asked about the church’s role in revival he responded with:

The upper room was not a hotel where you checked in and never checked out, which a lot of charismatic-Pentecostal churches have become. They’re like hotels in that you just come for the feeling, like a drug. You come, get your high, go sit in the corner and say, “Wow.”

Response: The interview is short but sweet. I encourage you to read it all–it will only take about 5 minutes! Pastor Rodney does have an inspired understanding of where the church is and where God would like to take it. Blessings.

-Why We Need Revival!

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We are in a spiritual decline in the church, in this nation, and in all of the Western world.

There is a blinding stupor that has covered all of Europe and America. Secular humanism and atheism are on the move and have overtaken the church in the media and in the schools and universities creating a spiritual vacuum in the Western world. Meanwhile it is like the church is asleep.

Some of us have come alive this Christmas season and become involved in the ‘War on Christmas’ and refuse to give or receive a ‘Happy Holidays’ greeting holding out for the traditional ‘Merry Christmas’. However, the cause is really already lost in our public schools. Traditional carols aren’t allowed, even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was kicked out of one school because the song dares to even mention Christmas. You can bet however, that every schoolchild knows that the Muslims recently celebrated their yearly Hajj.

That brings up the real spiritual challenge to Christianity–Islam which is growing at a phenomenal rate and actually has incredible demonic backing. Unchecked, Europe could become Muslim in one generation–the current demographics bear this out.

It seems incredible but there is huge spiritual deception and blindness going on right now in regard to Islam. In fact, in the UK the Church of England seems to be surrendering to Islam on many different levels. In Italy the birth-rate among Italians is so low that most demographers forecast that The Vatican will be surrounded by a Muslim immigrant dominated nation in 20 years.

In America, the church is under a tremendous assault by homosexuality and the more liberal part of the church including the Episcopalians are surrendering under a delusion of the enemy–calling it a response to the love that Christ taught. Unless revival comes soon, mark my words, same-sex marriage will become a legal reality within 5 years and those who oppose it and teach against homosexuality will be subject to lawsuits and/or arrest. This is already the case in Canada and some European countries.

Look at the radical response to Prop 8-the traditional marriage amendment- in California. Also, notice the current outrage in the main-stream media because Pastor Rick Warren was picked to give a prayer at the inaugural. What is his great crime?–he supports traditional marriage.

Western civilization itself is actually in danger of disappearing in one generation. Without a major revival, major changes are planned by the enemy and the church could be driven nearly underground in one generation. Why do I say this? According to recent polls and demographics, 80% of the kids raised attending American churches by Christian parents leave the church as adults–and worst, are not raising their kids in the faith.

My generation (Baby-Boomers) and the next has failed to pass on their faith to the next generation and as we pass from the scene, the church could begin to diminish to 20% of its present size unless there is some kind of radical change.

Major revival is the only hope that I can see for reversing these trends. Christians have spent a lot of time and resources politically in the last 20 years trying to reverse some of these trends to no avail—Come Holy Spirit and bless this land. Let the Son rise up and shine across the face of America and Europe–to the very ends of the earth and push away the darkness once more.          

-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.           

-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!

-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.