crsschk
Oct 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 ~
[b]Day One
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[i]Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Pray ...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 ~
[b]Day One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[i]Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Pray ...
I would like to bump this and to them that feel lead to pray for brother Denny who will speak tonight
Fervently.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 ~
[b]Day One
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[i]Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Pray ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[b]Reflections
Early, upon arriving...
The sanctuary ... peaceful. Great peace. Very easy to pray, felt quite the load of just plain life fall off. Spiritually, still much brokenness ...
One great impression was from Pastor Lombardi who is allowing the use of his wonderful facilities and the interaction between some of the speakers. Very gracious and precious the understanding, forthcoming and spiritual cooperation.
So much to say, but must get ready for this morning. Perhaps more of a follow up later.
Praying for this spiritual earnestness, honesty and unity to carry right on through to this very forum.
Wenesday, October 24, 2007 ~
Day Two
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Still feeling backed up to yesterdays considerations ... From a few notes carried over;
MC, (Compton), Robert (RobertW), Chris (ChrisJD), Jordon, (Jordanamo), Joy (Roniya), Charlene, Darryl, (Dohzman)... Eli Brayley, Andrew Strom ...
More I am sure, that are here ...
Have met more than a few that are familiar with this setting, reading from afar ... but not posting. It is helpful to see actual faces to help enforce that very easy thing to do, forget that many eyes are peering into these matters. Just as well, whatever might be stated as to the usefulness or fellowship present here, not replacing physical gathering of ourselves together notwithstanding, there are those who for whatever reasons might be shut-in, sick, phsically unable to do what many of us are quite able to do. For those, this may be the only refuge and fellowship they have. I tremble to think that some of the disunity and schisms, strife that are present too often here might drive those away, or cause the hesitation to share their hearts with us. Brethren, there are far more ramifications than we know. There is absolutely no reason why the same fellowship and conduct that is present when we are face to face should be any different when we are seeminlgy without face behind these screens.
Something I wanted to share was just before I left Monday morning from home had awakened with a very profound realization, my very first thoughts were ... This is everything, everything that is important in life. The Lord. Being amongst His people ... I pray that is understood correctly, I have been musing much on just why I needed to be here, what do I come to seek ? ... Truly it is not something for myself, but that is coming despite it. Saints we just need God. I pray the webcast is working well and that these things get transmitigated ... (think this is redundant but I am short on time, need to get back for the next sessions).
One more thing, I made a mistake earlier in the week with those asking me about my vacation plans, telling where I was going often raised the question, "do you have any family in Ohio?" No, I replied ...
Well, I most certainly do have family in Ohio!
[i]But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Brother Denny.
"What about the Lord's testimony?"
Such edifying sermons, Mike. I hope these will be posted on SI so we can listen to them again? It has been so long since I have heard preaching done with so much passion...reminds me how much more I need to pray for my own brotherhood and leadership.
God bless you all...
ginnyrose
EDIT: Could you post on SI the nine points Dean Taylor said characterizes a revival?
"What about the Lord's testimony?"
Carter Conlon is speaking here in 3 hours!
[b]Wednesday continued
Praise God ...
Wow, I am somewhat speechless, I do believe that a great deal of this is not going to be ... appreciated, articulated, processed for quite some time. If these brothers don't stop loving on me like this I am going to ... Goodness I don't know.
Hope you all caught Gareth Evans words earlier today. Saints, the things he spoke about SI ... Oh my soul! This whole thing is so far beyond us as we have so often suspected ... but to hear it, goodness, I was completely overwhelmed with tears and gratitude ... it re-enforced what a privilege it is, what a responsibility ... what fear and trembling that we are trafficking in Holy matters here and many, many are being affected ... some of the things I have heard, overheard ... certainly Greg could attest, I know it is very humbling to him and to me ... God bless you dear brother may we keep to the Lords directives and always be attentive to His leading and direction. Guess I had more to say than I know.
Some more quick notes swirling about through all this;
"These Godly men ... praying on their knees, on the pulpit, besides their chairs ... unafraid, unashamed, unpretentious ... humble, contrite ...
Taking notes! From each other ..."
Why these things to note? These are men of God that have ... how many years now of walking with the Lord? ... still learning and drawing from each other spiritual truths ... It's tremendous, these seemingly innocuous little things.
Revival.
I do not know what I could ever say to this, these men are speaking precisely to the issues we are facing, in our hearts, in our homes, in our community ... right on out to the nations. Where the problem resides, if any have been tracking with us ... we know.
Don Courville. I just want to make a specific mention for what he has been doing in these days ... guiding this whole thing along led of the spirit, a great intuition as to everything that is happening ...led of the spirit.
So wonderful to hear these voices that are so familiar, in person ... Ralph Sutera ...
Harold Vaughn, speaking on how we can go from being here on SI and in one click, right into the world of darkness (paraphrasing here) believe this is someone else's quote but;
"I refuse to entertain those things that killed my Saviour!"
Oh what a weight of testimony that was shared last night and today so far! God has spoken very clearly to many and continues to do so. Pray saints.
Oh indeed brother! Carter Conlon ...
I have no words...
Such edifying sermons, Mike. I hope these will be posted on SI so we can listen to them again? It has been so long since I have heard preaching done with so much passion...reminds me how much more I need to pray for my own brotherhood and leadership.God bless you all...
Praise God sister, I do believe they will be achieved in some form or fashion ... And passion, yes, honesty ... simplicity, reality.
ginnyroseEDIT: Could you post on SI the nine points Dean Taylor said characterizes a revival?
With pleasure! (Not exact, think I used an alternative phrase or two as I was trying to get them all)
1. Times of national depression (?)
2. A man to plead ... (Put "consecrated disciples")
3. On the word of God
4. Return to worship of God, blood sacrifice
5. Destruction of idols
6. Separation from sin
7. Return to _______
8. Time of rejoicing
9. Blessing of God on His people
(10) Brink of judgment
(11) [u]Heart
The last two were deans add's, sorry about #7
Scriptures: 2 Chron 14:6-9-11 on to chapter 15: 1-8- through 17, 16:9 - 18:31- 20:3-13-15-17 "He feared" (Exodus 32)- Acts 2: and 4:
Believe he got these (9) from Wilbur Smith originally.
Whew ... what a day. Praise be to God!
Thank you for these posts. I can't tell you how worth it all these makes it all - everything.
Lord God continue to Bless - everyone. Amen.
Thursday, October 24, 2007 ~
Day Three
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Oh righteous Father, have your way with us ... Come Lord Jesus, with us this day
"[i]The Person of Revival
Mike,
Thanks for posting this list....I did get #7: A returning of the people to God's way.
The context from which these points were drawn makes them much more meaningful when you read the story as recorded in 2Chron. 14 on. Yes, a study of the OT revivals should put us all to shame. And they lived on the otherside of the cross! Should shame us more.
God bless you...it was a blessing to hear the older brother preach a few minutes ago..am not sure of his name - he preached on worldliness. Pastorfrin would have loved his story about his car... :-) But the point is well taken. So simple but so true, so profound.
Anyhow, I was challenged and blessed.
ginnyrose
[b]Friday
There is a great deal to speak of ... Oh, how incredibly thankful to the Lord, to so many, to the reality of seeing .... [i]Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.
Had saved the following for just this time, that we might not soon forget;
([i]Edit: Cleaned up the former version reading wise ... I pray the length does not disuade you, if one must, skip down to the highlighted section.
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[b]In Touch with the Throne[i]by T. Austin-Sparks
[b]Chapter 2 - Prayer as Warfare
[i]Reading:
The Christian life has very often been likened to a warfare, and the appeal has been made to 'come and join the ranks and enter into the battle of the Lord.' But there is an irregularity about such an appeal, because, while it is true that there is such a warfare and such a militant company, the real consciousness of the fight, the battle, the warfare, does not exist until we are saved and are 'on the Lord's side.' The unconverted do not know anything about this battle. For them it is something merely reported and spoken about, something objective - outside of themselves and something about which they have altogether confused and wrong ideas. It is not until we are really in Christ that we either know the reality of the battle or understand its true nature.
But it is not just the warfare of the Christian life in the general and ordinary sense with which we are concerned here at this time. It is that warfare which is especially connected with, and related to, the full testimony of the Lord Jesus. The general conception of Christian warfare is that which has to do with evils, wrongs, vices, the things in this world, and human conditions which ought to be otherwise, and it is there that the mistaken apprehension of unconverted men and women is found. They think that to enter into the Christian army means to go out to battle with the evils, the wrongs, and the vices which abound in this world. But when you really come into touch with the full testimony of the Lord Jesus you very soon develop another consciousness: that it is not merely evils, wrongs and sins that you are having to deal with, but spiritual forces - intelligent, cunning, artful, venomous, malicious forces - which are at the back of everything else. It is that warfare with which we are concerned just now, that which is related to the full testimony of the Lord Jesus, to His absolute and perfect sovereignty and lordship in this universe, and that warfare is not with things but with spiritual persons, headed by a great spiritual personage, the evil one.
[b]Spiritual Conflict Implies a Spiritual Position
This warfare is related to a position. It is a consciousness which only comes to us in a certain realm. You may be a Christian, and as a Christian you may realize that you are up against adversities, difficulties, oppositions, and things which make the Christian life strenuous and full of conflict, calling out all the militant features of life, and yet you may not have entered into the ultimate things of the testimony of the Lord Jesus and the ultimate realm of the battle of the saints. But if you come as a believer to a revelation of the fullness of Christ in His personal sovereignty and lordship, in the greatness of the work of His cross in every realm, and then into the light of the Church which is His Body, you enter immediately into a new realm of conflict, the battle changes its character, and you begin to develop a consciousness, or a consciousness begins to grow in you, that you are up against something far more sinister, far more intelligently evil than those wrongs that abound in the world. You become increasingly conscious that it is with the devil, directly and nakedly, and with his forces that you are having to do.
But that consciousness is bound up with a specific position, and the experience of believers is that as they go on with the Lord (which means going upward, away from the earthlies to the heavenlies, more and more away from the old creation to the new creation life, and more and more away from the flesh to the spirit) the more closely do they come into contact with the ultimate spiritual forces of the universe, and the conflict assumes new forms and the warfare takes a new character. It is a warfare linked up with a specific position to which the believer comes, and with the consciousness which comes in only in a certain realm. It is in a fuller measure a spiritual warfare, and being that, it pre-supposes a spiritual state on the part of the believer.
To put that in another way: the more spiritual we become, the more spiritual does the warfare become; and the more spiritual the warfare is in our consciousness and in our knowledge, so we may realize that we have become more spiritual. When we are carnal our warfare is carnal, and I refer to believers and not to unbelievers. The unbeliever is not spoken of as carnal. He is natural. When we are carnal as believers, our warfare and our weapons are carnal. That is, we meet men on their own level and answer back their challenge with that with which they challenge us. If they come out in argument we counter with argument; if they come out with reason we meet them with reason; if they come out with fierce temper we meet them in the heat of the flesh; and if they come out to us with criticism, well, we give them what they give us and try to go one better, meeting them always on their own level.
That is carnal warfare, using carnal weapons. When we cease to be carnal and leave all carnal ground, becoming wholly spiritual, we find ourselves in a new realm at the back of men, dealing with spiritual forces directly and not with merely carnal forces. We have come into touch with something at the back of carnal man, and the carnal man is utterly helpless in the presence of a spiritual man for the simple reason that he cannot get the spiritual man to come down to his level. Therefore he is disarmed, and sooner or later he will have to recognize that that spiritual man is his superior. But the superiority is not just in that the spiritual man is on a new level. It is that he is meeting not the man naturally, but the forces behind the man. It is spiritual warfare now. We cease to fight after the flesh; we cease to fight man; we cease to battle with flesh; our warfare is in another realm altogether. That represents spiritual advance, spiritual growth, and it represents spirituality. And when we come into real spiritual warfare a spiritual state is pre-supposed. In that realm the natural man's resources are utterly useless. They are ruled out, because for that warfare only spiritual equipment is either permissible or effective. The warfare then is with spiritual weapons, spiritual resources and spiritual equipment. So Ephesians 6 finds us in the heavenlies, battling, not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, but we are equipped with a spiritual armour, the armour of God.
[b]The Prayer-life - the Objective of the Enemy
That is all preliminary. What we are coming to immediately as the thing of basic importance for us, having seen the nature of our warfare, is that the battlefield of this warfare is prayer. When the Apostle Paul has shown us the whole panoply of God, the armour in all its parts, and exhorted us to take it up and to stand, and withstand, he, as it were, spreads the ground under our feet and says: "With all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." The battleground of this warfare is prayer. What I mean is this: that this battle is won on the ground of prayer, these forces are dealt with and defeated on the ground of prayer, and, that being so, the chief objective of the enemy is the prayer-life of the believer. That is the focal point of all the enemy's attention and strategy.
Now if we said no more than that, that is the supreme thing for our grasping and for our recognition. We have said the most important thing that can be said in this connection. The focal point of all the enemy's attention and strategy is the prayer-life of the believer. If he can destroy that by any means he has gained the day, defeated the saints and frustrated the ends of God. The enemy fights prayer persistently, energetically, violently and cunningly, and he fights the prayer-life of the believer. He fights it in various ways. First of all, he fights it along preventive lines, in the direction of prevention, and there has to be a tremendous battle and conflict to get prayer - not only to pray, but to have prayer, get prayer - and there is nothing in all the range of his wit, his cunning, his craftiness, his ingenuity and his resourcefulness that the enemy will not employ to prevent real spiritual prayer. I think it will probably be enough for us if we concentrate upon that just now.
[b]The Battle for Prayer
I am quite sure that I have the agreement of most of the Lord's people when I say that one of the most difficult things, if not the most difficult thing, is to be able to get to prayer and give ourselves to prayer. When we contemplate prayer we meet a host of unsuspected and unforeseen difficulties which suddenly rise up as ambush forces breaking out upon us. Anything to prevent prayer! I am not saying something that you do not know, but I am saying it in order that you may recognize it clearly, definitely and deliberately, and face the fact that it is not just ordinary circumstances, but a designed, well-laid scheme of the enemy to prevent prayer. The enemy, instead of objecting, will promote occupation with a thousand and one things for the Lord if thereby he can crowd out prayer. He does not mind how busy we are in the Lord's work, nor how often we are found preaching, conducting meetings, and doing the many-sided work of the Lord, as we may call it. He knows quite well that all the work for the Lord which is not founded upon triumphant spiritual prayer will count for little or nothing in the long run and will break down. I say that he does not mind you working. Work for the Lord as hard as you can, but if you leave out prayer you will not accomplish very much. One of the subtleties of the enemy is to get us so busy, so occupied, so much on the go and on the rush with - as we think - things for the Lord and the work of the Lord that our prayer is cramped and pushed up into a corner and limited, if not almost entirely ruled out; and the Lord will never accept the excuse: 'Lord, I am too much engaged in Your interests to pray.' The Lord never favours an attitude like that.
You will remember that when the children of Israel began to talk about and contemplate their exodus from Egypt, the enemy's reaction was to double their labours, that is, to get them so much more deeply occupied with work that there would be no more time for contemplating an exodus. Immediately you begin to contemplate or purpose a fuller prayer-life, the enemy launches a new scheme for keeping you more busy and occupied, heaping up the work and crowding in demands so that you will have no time or opportunity for prayer.
I think that we must face this quite definitely. Of course, there are all the arguments about duty, obligation and responsibility, and it does sometimes look as though to put some things aside for prayer would be neglecting duty, or failing in obligation, or breaking down in responsibility, but there is a place where we have to cast those matters upon the Lord, and pray.
Now, of course, it is very difficult to apply that. There are always dangers about saying a thing like that, because there are always people who are more than ready to let go of their responsibilities, or who do not take their responsibilities seriously. They would be only too ready and glad to hand over their domestic affairs to someone else while they cultivate a devotional life. The Lord must safeguard this word. But we must recognize this: that the enemy will construct his best arguments about responsibility, duty and conscience to stop us praying, and there is a place where, if we see prayer is utterly ruled out, or brought down to such a limited place that it is completely inadequate for a life of spiritual ascendancy and victory, we have to say: 'Lord, I am going to trust the responsibility with You while I pray, that You will not allow my breaking away for this time to have detrimental results, and that You will protect this prayer-time - which I seek for Your glory - from the inroads of the enemy.'
The principle of the tithe does work, even in this realm. Give God His portion, His place, and you will find that when you have given the Lord His one-tenth, you are able to do more with the nine-tenths than you could do with ten-tenths. That principle works. But there is a battle for prayer, and the necessity is for a strong, a mighty, a deliberate and a determined stand in Christ, by the victory of His cross, to get prayer, to bring in the full weight and the value of the victory of the cross of the Lord Jesus to secure prayer and to drive the enemy off the ground of prayer so that that ground may be held for prayer. It is like Shammah of old, when he stood in the lentil patch with his sword in his hand and, singlehanded, fought the Philistines and preserved that lentil patch, and the Lord wrought a great victory. The lentil patch may represent our prayer-ground, which has to be defended against the enemy in the fullness of Calvary's victory. There is a fight to get prayer and a battle for prayer. We have, I am afraid, too often accepted the situation that it is not possible to pray just now, or things are such as to make it quite out of the question to pray. Yes, they will be if the devil has his way; they will be always such as to make prayer out of the question. That is one of his tactics. We have to clear the ground for prayer in the victory of His Name and of His Cross. The Cross is just as effectual in securing time for prayer, if we will apply it and use it, as it is in any other realm.
But we have to approach prayer on victory-ground. We have to take up this attitude, and we shall find it more and more necessary to do so: 'Now prayer must be. Everything makes it impossible on the human side, but, Lord, I claim in the victory of Calvary a time of prayer, a clear space for prayer.' We have to stand in that victory, and it may mean standing before we get through. It is not only the many things that may press in upon us along the line of external circumstances and happenings, to leave no room for a time of prayer. How true it is that when we are actually down on our knees prayer is withstood! It may be nothing on the outside. There may be no doorbells ringing, no telephone going, nor callers coming. We may be shut up in the silence of our own room and be actually on our knees, and then a mighty interfering activity commences. It may be physical. We may suddenly develop a physical consciousness that was not there a little while before, and it will threaten the whole of our prayer-time, so that we find that bodily we have to take up a tremendous burden, a deadweight. We may even develop positive symptoms of illness of which we were unconscious before. These are facts. And then mental conditions may come in just at that time which were not there before. Oh, immediately, what an inrush of a thousand and one things which have not bothered us up till that moment! The mind becomes occupied by way of reflection and with things we must not forget which have not troubled us until that moment. And what about that sense of numbness, coldness, distance and unreality that descends upon you at such times? If you pray audibly your voice sounds strange and far away, and you seem to be talking into the air. All these things, and many others, come when we purpose prayer. They come on the very threshold, and for a time we meet all manner of discouragements and set-backs to prayer, and if we take the first five, ten or even fifteen minutes as our criterion, we will give it up, close down, get up and get on with something else.
Yes, the enemy is out to prevent prayer, and there is a phase of the battle which has to be gone through in order to get prayer. Again I say, this is nothing strange or foreign to you - unless, of course, you have not had a prayer-life at all, or are one who has never seriously taken up the business of prayer. But I am not saying all this to inform you. I am saying it to you and to myself in order that we may recognize that this is a thing which calls us into battle. It is the warfare of the saints to get to prayer, and not only to pray through. There is this aspect of the enemy's activity which is to prevent prayer, and to obtain it is a battle. There has to be a standing, a taking up of a position, and a withstanding in prayer for prayer.
I trust that the saying of all this which is so true to your experiences will nevertheless have the desired effect of making you recognize that in the future your prayer-life is not going to develop if the enemy can prevent it, and if you are going to have it and it is going to develop, then you will have to stand for it. It will not just come. You will not find that you just drift into it. You will never find that you drift into a mighty prayer-life, or that you walk with ease into such a thing. You will find that there is some making and breaking, some conflict and some battle to get it, that every realm of things will be taken hold of by the enemy to prevent it, and all that he has at his command of supernature will be used. You and I, dear friends, have to fight for our prayer-life, and the more we advance with the Lord spiritually, the more we shall find that to be so. It is not that the enemy is out to stop you and me from having a personal prayer-life. That is not what he is against. It is the testimony of the Lord Jesus which is so closely bound up with the prayer-life of the Lord's people that he is out to destroy. You and I, as individuals, as human beings, do not mean anything to the enemy. It is that which is bound up with us, and with which we are bound up in Christ - His sovereignty and His glory.
[b]What Is Involved in Prayer
Now does it occur to you, or even strike you with considerable force, that this resistance to prayer-life on the part of the enemy implies - or more than that, it positively declares and proclaims - that the Lord's glory and honour, His Name and His testimony are preeminently secured by prayer? If that is the focal point of the enemy's activity, then it means that the Lord's highest interests are served by prayer. That puts prayer in the first place. That, again, is not new to you, and yet it is a further emphasis upon the fact that the enemy is always trying to get prayer into the last place. He will try to get anything else in relation to the Lord before prayer, and get prayer in the last place. And it does not matter how you put it, or what you say to Christian people about this, you cannot get it home to them. 'Oh, it is only the prayer meeting tonight!' On Sunday night, when there is ministry of the Word and preaching, you will have a large gathering, but on prayer meeting night you go into a side hall which will be perhaps a little more than half full. And yet on Sunday night you have said that our main ministry is prayer and everything goes if our prayer-life fails! You may say anything you like along that line, emphasize it and stress it, but it does not make any difference. I must confess that I am often bewildered by the fact that so many really spiritual people - for so I give them credit for being - will crowd to preaching meetings and conferences, but they are rarely seen at a prayer meeting and leave so few to do the praying in the corporate prayer-life of the assembly.
Yes, it is just like that, as though listening to an address were the first and primary thing, and as though getting Bible teaching and truth were more than anything else. No, dear friends! Not at all! All that can only become vital, living and effective in so far as our prayer-life, individually and corporately, is maintained in strength and given the first place. So suffer whatever there might be of correction in the word, for it is true, is it not? Oh, we have all been guilty. We all have to say to ourselves: 'Thou art the man!' We do need so much to get the Lord's estimate of the value of prayer, and if you go through the Word you will find that He estimates prayer at a higher value than anything else in His people. Look at His own life! Oh, amazement of amazement, that One such as the Son of God, in all that He was, should yet maintain such a prayer-life! "A great while before day," or "continued all night." Yes, He prayed!
And has it occurred to you that some of the most glorious unveilings of truth that we have in the Bible came in prayers? Read those prayers of Paul in Ephesians and Colossians! "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father...", and then he goes on and gives you his prayer, and in that prayer you have a revelation which is matchless. It has come in prayer, so that your teaching is based upon the prayer-life of a man. Your light, in its true value, comes out of prayer, and there is no light of real value that is not born of prayer. All the value of truth depends upon the prayer which is behind it, so that our conferences, our meetings, our addresses, and all the truth that comes just remain so much negative matter if there is not a commensurate prayer-life on our part in relation to it. [color=0000CC]We have to pray it in and pray it out, and I feel that [u]after[i]The Lord burn that into our hearts, for that is the preeminent work - prayer.
It is not a great deal that has been said, but it is very important, and let us remember the word in connection with the enemy's determination to prevent prayer. We shall go on to show you that if he cannot prevent it, he will try to interrupt it; and if he cannot interrupt it, he will try to destroy it afterwards. There are other aspects of this thing, but we have perhaps seen enough to get us into some very definite place in relation to our prayer-life in facing it in the Name of the Lord.
Please do pray for Greg, Jamie and Jeff, for safe passage and travel as they make their way home, and for all that will soon be on their way over the coming hours and days. They have travelled from all over the world saints ... Unspeakable.
Would it be possible for you to address the problem of the empty prayer hall in the conference in Canton?
How are we to address the fact that intercessors were shut out, even whole ministries of intercession were shut out from the conference?
We do not, for certain, know all the details about what was going on, but all is not well– though many were profoundly blessed. We also testify to substantial values produced in our hearts.
All is not well – therefore we all continue to pray. . .
All is not well – therefore we will continue to pray and hold you dear, you friends of revival.
Dear Hanna,
I am not certain specifically what you mean ... would prefer not to speculate. Please have patience in the coming days, there is much to process, much that I am unaware of and much that transpired with so many involved from different quarters ... with that I could but suppose miscommunication and even misunderstanding. I will do my best, would you kindly send me your concerns privately, by PM or email? There is nothing to hide as our hearts are greatly exposed as if never before, only that whatever process that might be undertaken would be best done in this manner. We can then present the matters more clearly when they are truly understood.
I bless you for your prayers, they are needed. I am dedicated to fostering the spirit of unity here so help me God.
My prayers for this situation to be indeed turned well.
Arrived back in Kansas City at 2:40 AM this morning. I come away with a powerfully renewed and refreshed sense of urgency to see revival in our lands. The words that comes to mind are [i]personal revival[u]me[u]me
Carter Conlon perhaps put his finger on the fact that there may well be things in my life (our lives) that we have refused to deal with that is truly hindering us from seeing the 'promised land'. An aspect of our character or personality that misrepresents God.
It was wonderful to meet all of the brothers and sisters from SI. I long desired to meet many and the Lord made a way.
Precious saints ...
There is a floodgate bursting within me that is going to cause me to dance like David danced in spiritual nakedness and I must be unashamed of it though there is this nagging reserve to be reserved. Poetic language, pray is not taken as emotional hyperbole, it is far beyond that ... There are cracks in the dam, that can breach the walls of containment ... that you would bear with me in some folly.
Not but a few minutes ago, in prayer, the heart stirrings coming forth, the immediate recollections ... snapshots of precious moments, it is just the way this man takes in things even unaware ... it can be a tremendous difficulty to be such a sponge, especially when it has sopped up all that it can contain, something must be wrung out of it so it can again soak up the overflow. Perhaps this is not foreign to others.
Unity.
There is no one catch all statement from these days yet here is one that rises up to the top. Brotherhood, the Brethren, the saints, together in harmony of spirit ... It is not too flowery and it is as difficult to not wonder at how a recapturing looks, sounds, feels from your side of this writing. But to those that were there it must be unmistakable that which I speak here of.
There was a dear, dear brother ... a man unknown, yet known profoundly. A giant of a man, not just in size but in heart. This brother stood up during the time of testimony and spoke my own heart out before everyones hearing. I must paraphrase it somewhat but the essence was ...
"I have waited a very long time to see this ... To see those with head coverings together with those without, dwelling together ..."
Oh, he said much more than this, much more ... both verbally and silently. But I am telling you that dam burst open from unknown depths ... [i]This[i]This
So I return to write and ... Oh, the sinking heart of ... turbulence ... Mind you, this is not judging the matter in the previous post, I do not know the situation but I will fight for it's resolution ... we must do this saints, we must ... We have royal blood flowing through these veins, think of it! Would you? For the love of God and Jesus Christ, I plead with us all to dedicate ourselves to His commandment that we love one another! It is sin if we do not it is sin my beloved Brethren!
We must reconcile if we ever will see any revival of any shape or form, there is no other way. Restitution and reconciliation, not strife and this ungodly, unholy, un-civil bastardized ...twisting of a word, this oxymoronic moronic word, 'civil war'. It is impossible to put the two words together and we, Christians, of the same royal bloodline cannot, cannot be at war with each other, a thousand time no! Oh that you might hear my heart over the shouting ....
The brother that I spoke of, this precious man ... of God. Let me intersperse a note first, another precious saint, Gareth Evans ... A true servant of God, Oh he knows me, he looks right through me and I know he knows and I know that he knows that he knows ... Oh, there are men of God that have spiritual perception and understanding of just what is taking place in a situation, what needs to be done and said and spoken with the precision of a surgeon and I would say effortlessly. How many times he would state things already in my heart seconds later, moments later. These moderators of the conference taught this moderator invaluable lessons, Oh we must be so careful with these things dear saints. After the testimonies he stated that the rest of us ought to go and find some of these that stood up and spoke, go and pray with them, encourage them .. the very thing I had already purposed in my heart to do. And so it was that I sought out this brother, whose heart cry was my own, for unity. This man is not a stranger, he is my beloved brother! I wrapped my arms around him and told him how much he spoke of my own heart and I bless God for what he did and said ... I don't recall all the words, but there was an understanding! Deep and profound and true ... Hear that with the volume of brother Keith! I pray to God ....
This same brother, Oh, the night before, over off to the side, holding his wifes hand, who was holding the sweet young daughter's ... and he is burdened and crying out "Oh God ... Oh Lord ..." Oh, Oh, Oh ! Those two assimilated expressions of letters ... as brother Ron so precisely articulated, they are the sweet, precious tears of mingled joy and sorrow ... Oh might they be the closest we fallen creatures might come to sweating of the blood of Jesus? Might they? This royal blood of the spirit that inhabits we undeserving creatures ...
"Oh [i]Lord
My beloved Brethren, saints, friends, brothers and sisters ... We can do this thing! We can be one as the Lord prayed we would be. [b]I have come from it!
Oh my soul, precious Lord ... break our hearts over and over again ... This is not an emotional outworking, it is from the depths and it has been long my heartbreak, over the years ... in many, many, many redundant postings. The things we fight and war over are not worth it! They are not ...
Oh Lord ... I pray ... I pray. I tremble and humble myself before you and ... plead, for the love of God, love one another.
Dearly beloved saints,
Hallelujah! All praise be to our wonderful and great God! As I am now home from the conference there are a flood of overwhelming thoughts and memories and it is indeed challenging to try to even pull them together. Oh what a few days it was, and oh how I pray that what conspired in those few days continues on in the lives of all who experienced God working in their lives, a continuation of the working of the Spirit of God in the lives of each individual member of the Bride of Jesus Christ.
One amazing little sentence keep coming back…unity in the midst of diversity. I was staggered to see the degree of unity there was amongst Christians of all different backgrounds. I have never been at a conference where doctrinal beliefs have been so diverse and yet a people so unified, so hunger, so earnest in seeking God for revival in their own lives and others. It was incredible. It was God. That’s what I can say all the way through, every aspect of this conference, the planning, the speakers, the schedule, the drawing of people together, the location of the conference, it was God. Only God can bring people together like that from all over the world, from different cultures, different denominations. A drawing together to seek God to come down, and come down He did. Was He not in our midst, causing our hearts to leap with joy when we met a fellow believer for the first time and find a bonding and unity that is only found in our beloved Christ? Hallelujah! Was not He in the midst of that spacious auditorium working in men, women, and children’s hearts while on their knees and some even prostrate before Him, lost in brokenness in seeking God? Oh it was He, it was He!
I didn’t have much time to do a lot of journaling during the conference but on Tuesday night my heart was so burning that I stayed up and scribbled out a few things in a notebook. Here is what was on my heart then, some of it I have already mentioned, forgive me for the repetition of some things…but it only emphasizes how deeply I was struck with them.
~~~~~
[i]Tuesday Evening, Day One
All praise be to our great God, our Creator! What a full and wonderful day it was. To see many saints gather together for the sole purpose of seeking God’s face is so awesome. How wonderful is the bond we have in Jesus Christ.
I was so blessed to meet old friends, new friends and SI friends – all precious brothers and sisters in Christ!
It has been awesome to see God put this conference together. He has provided a wonderful facility at Trinity Gospel Temple, the local believers have so graciously provided hospitality for so many.
How incredible it was to step into the sanctuary all through the day and find people, individually and in small groups. To hear their voices lifted up to heaven, pleading, begging God to visit His people. Oh, alleluia that we pray to a God who hears us!
God has brought in a great diversity of saints to this conference – diverse and yet one in Christ. Unity in diversity… I watched hundreds of people come through the doors of Trinity Gospel Temple today, people from all different walks of life, people from all over the world, people with hearts hungry for God. Does He not see all this? Does not His eye see His people coming together, putting aside other priorities in life to come together to seek Him? Oh yes, He does see and the heart that He will meet will be the humble and contrite heart. \t
Oh how I love the deep hymns of our faith, especially the ones that focus on Christ. I don’t know if others were blessed or not by the worship time, but oh how those rich words can stir my soul! Praise God!
Bro. Denny’s message this evening came from a burning heart. Oh how I pray that the words which came from a burning heart were burned into the hearts of the hearers! And that even in the night they would come back and stir us to seek God until He come and rain righteousness upon us!
What struck me from this power message was point six – the glorious Person of revival. An unutterable longing flooded my soul to have Christ revealed to us, Christ, our Creator, Savior lifted up on high so that we are consumed with His person. Oh there are many blessings that have come with revival in the past, but tonight I stopped longing for all those other blessings and yearned that we all might just turn our eyes upon the One who gave His life for us! Let us forget trivial matters of conversation and talk of Christ! Oh to go on for hours extolling His beauty and Person! Oh to soak ourselves in the Scriptures and meditate upon Christ. Oh God, come down that we might be consumed with Christ!
~~~~~
Last night I did a bit more writing, highlighting some things from the conference:
-An unusual degree of unity in diversity
-The focus was on seeking God individually first and then for our churches.
-There was an excellent balance of messages given by godly men, with testimonies of past revivals to encourage us to keep praying and believing for God to do it again, there were messages defining what revival is and God’s pattern for revival, and then there were the messages on repentance and specific sin that left you on your knees seeking God for forgiveness and cleansing in your own life.
-The reoccurring theme that came through from speaker after speaker was that our problem here in North America lies not with the world, corrupt politicians, Hollywood, etc, no, the problem lies with sin in the church, sin in me. We must stop focusing on doing things to change our culture, the change must come in the churches all across our lands, the churches that are compromising and living in sin and ungodliness.
-It was a time of personal evaluation of our own spiritual lives, and earnest searching of our hearts for any sin. In revival when God points out sin it is like having a stick pointed in our eye (I can’t remember who said that). We must be willing to be yielded to God to use whatever means He chooses to show the wretchedness in our hearts (Carter Conlon).
-I was amazed at the gracious hospitality shown by the staff at Trinity Gospel Temple. From Pastor Lombardi and his dear wife to the men in the sound booth, there was a willing, servant spirit to do whatever was needed. They graciously opened up their church for this conference, not knowing what to expect and yet all through the conference up to the very end, all that came forth was a spirit of Christlikeness and a desire to see God work. I was so blessed by this, and humbled to see how graciously this pastor and his fellowship graciously welcomed people into their church, and did not let doctrinal differences or outer appearances hinder their hospitality. Truly it was Christ in them.
-It was an incredible blessing for me to finally meet people face to face that I already knew on SI: Mike Balog, ChrisJD, Jordan, Charlene, Laura (Heartsong), Eli, Victor (Vico), Jeff (running2win), Alec Dunn (Bramwell), Andrew Strom, Ron Bailey, and the Canton Prayer Union. It was wonderful to meet new people and fellowship with them, and it was so wonderful to once again see precious friends, some from off of SI, that I had already met and knew. It was so interesting to talk to people and find out how they found out about the conference, so much of it was by word of mouth, and it was wonderful to meet the local people that came into the conference and had such a hunger for the Word of God.
-I was thinking about this that God doesn’t come the way we would choose that He comes, but the way that He pleases to come. Only time and eternity will reveal the deep work that God did over those few short days. Now we must pray that the work continues in the lives of each person who was there or heard the webcast and we must pray that the work continues in all of our churches.
-The question and answer session on Thursday afternoon was so stirring for me personally to have a renewed burden and persistency in praying for revival in my community. I must confess my faith was growing a bit weak after spending about six years praying for revival in our church and seeing some devastating and divisive workings of the enemy in our midst, but I am returning home with renewed faith and hope in our God to work, for He is able! This is where the needs lies in the world today, for the Bride of Christ Jesus to be revived and set ablaze, for then she will, and only then she will impact the world for Christ, and this need starts right here with me.
~~~~~
And so, we go back to the mundane things of life, yet with our eyes on Christ, and with an ever growing vision of eternity before us, so that even in the most mundane things, all can be done for the glory of God. I so agree with the words of dear brother Mike (it was such a blessing to meet this brother), we must strive for unity, strive to keep our eyes on Christ and remember the important things in life, we must love one another, it is the command of Christ, our marvelous Christ, to His Bride, we His people. Oh, brethren and sisters, let us love one another! Not because of what is in each other, not because we like one another, not because of any human talent, but [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=20095&forum=34]solely because of Christ in us
I too can echo an awesome fear that came over me when Pastor Gareth Evans talked about Sermonindex and the impact it is having all over the world. It is the fear of God within me that this forum, as part of this site, would be a place of the reality of Christ in our midst as believers, we need the fear of the Lord to be upon us that this forum, these posts, these threads, would be glorifying to Christ and not bring shame to His Name! There are many that come here and read but do not post, I met many over the past couple days. It’s sobering to realize how many people may read these words, and it’s compelling to ensure that we are being led by the Holy Spirit in all we do on here.
Well, I have written much here…and must bring my ‘revival conference musings’ to an end. There is so much more to say, so much more to think upon, there are notes from burning messages that must needs be gone over and perhaps discussed…
Bless the Lord oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Praise God for bringing this conference together, praise God for sermonindex, praise God for the godly men who are behind it (for whom we ought to pray much for), praise God who has not forsaken His people, but does dwell in the midst of us! Praise God for the work He did in my heart, in many hearts, and praise God for what He will continue to do in the lives of many! Praise God for His faithful servants who came and gave themselves to the preaching of the Word, to prayer, to counseling, and to encouraging the saints, praise God for bringing some of the old giants, Ralph Sutera and Dick Sipley, to be at this conference, praise God for the pastors, both young and old, who came to this conference with needy hearts and hungry hearts to see God work in their own congregations, praise God for His marvelous works amongst the children of men!
Rejoicing in our Lord,
Joy
Oh my heart is mixed with joy and sorrow. I just got home. I have much to tell, but it seems I have no words. Maybe after a few days of rest I will be able to write more.
Truly unity comes from a humble and broken spirit, when we gives up all our ways. Willing to be wrong and want to obey God. You can bring anyone together who is Christ child.
My heart is singing for what God did in the last three I was there. Yet I have been changed impacted for life from all the things God showed from the week of prayer before. My heart burns to share. But I must seek God and be prayerful before writing.
God is pounding in my heart, my bones are on fire.
I have gave my time, to canton, but now I am home
so now I must turn my time to my Church.
God kept saying how much do you love the Church, the body of brothers and sister I have given you here? Do you long to see them? Pour into them?
If I come back and give nothing in my Church, what a fool I am. If we are talking on the love for the family. Then lets start with the one God has given us in our town.
Now with loving, I love my brother I will always love him because he is my brother. Hear me loud and strong. I love my brothers and sister because I see as my family, no way a around it. We have a great bond with the Blood of Christ.
Now I can weep cry and disagree. I can be sad for their sin. But love is not always kind as we want it to be. Oh dear brothers and sister, what good are you or me, if we know a brother or sister is in sin and we say nothing. We have help them . We come together and by God grace love each other, but if we say amen to their sin, we have not loved. Love is not easy at times. How can we hear a brother or sister speak bad of another sister or brother and say nothing and let say we love? Should we not say I don;t want to hear, go speak with them not me? How can we say we love and have unity when many are biting and trying to hurt others? Oh beloved this not love, they have many to repent of? But the best friends are those who tell you the truth. again in brokness come the true fruit of unity in Christ. But I also beg if you see a brother in sin, pray frist check your heart. and ask God for words that are gentle, if speak in harsh words you too will be in sin. Brother if we do anything to make one stumble we are in sin? I have seen wonderful things God did. But God will not honor a false love, but that of broken and humble spirit.
The greatest love is one who is willing lay down his life another. Love is giving up our rights our
I repent brothers there were some I struggled to love. I found only in humlity was I able to love.
We have much to learn about love, I agree love is important. As long it is not love that over looks sin, and is no help to a brother. But love that humble one self and see their own sin frist and is gentle to point out the brother by the word of God.
I ask for your prayers as I ponder many things God has showen me. Thank you all for your notes.
In His love
charlene
Arrived back in Kansas City at 2:40 AM this morning. I come away with a powerfully renewed and refreshed sense of urgency to see revival in our lands. The words that comes to mind are[i]personal revival[/i] . Revival has to begin with[u]me[/u] . Repentance has to begin with[u]me[/u] .
Thank you dear brother, the very truth of this ... Missed you at the close of everything Thursday evening but again let me say, there are things too precious to even speak to ... they are hidden in the heart, things I will never forget from you brothers.
I am greatly encouraged and want to encourage even more of what has been forthcoming here. Let this post take on a life of it's own. Would love to see and hear others expressions carried on through this as has begun.
There is some tension I can feel from some of the responses and that is understood. As many of us know from frequency here on this forum, expressing ones heart opens a gateway for a very large realm of misunderstanding. Some of it can be brought in and others can add to the misunderstandings quiet easily, even while attempting to 'fix' things. If anyone knows the blunders of this it would be myself. So I do ask and would highlight just this from our sister;
My heart burns to share. But I must seek God and be prayerful before writing.
It is so vital ...
If I might add anything might it be a word of caution. Certainly there is nothing to hide but there is a [i]manner
Is it important?
Truly, might it be better left alone?
Left unsaid?
Might we pray to know the mind of the Lord.
Where it is possible;
[i]Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Just as well and not to forget;
[i]Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Notice the initiative there, the position of humility. Precious saints, if we approached each other with the same fear and trembling of being before the Lord and recall that the Lord is watching ...
If that were not enough let us also keep in mind that there is now a new exposure from the events of past days. There will be new eyes peering into these things, many of whom have been invited to draw from all the resources present here, [i]including[i]Sermon
There is something still burning and I have been holding it back for some time, even well prior to these days ... There has been too often an air of [i]"I don't care"
[i]Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
I believe he further drove the point home with;
[i]But speaking the truth in [b]love[b]Christ
It is too easy to dismiss this with an [i]"I don't care"
I step down off the soapbox now and bow prostrate before you all. We are indeed accountable to each other, but [i]first
Would love to speak to what our sister Joy has so wonderfully expressed here but have to come full circle back to what Charlene stated;
My heart burns to share. But I must seek God and be prayerful before writing.
But in brief, just wanted to mention that re-assimilating back into ... this present world as was spoken to greatly by Richard Sipley. Oh, what a battle is raging already, the battle to pray and stay in the spirit of prayer ... so many things directly spoken to over these days from the pastors and speakers are being brought to bear in real time reality, in tests and yes, even temptations.
Right now, http://www.trinitybrotherdave.org/index.html Trinity Gospel Temple is in session, seem to be having a bit of trouble with the live feed but did notice that they too also archive their messages if one is so inclined. Above all Brethren, might we pray with a sincere heart for Pastor Dave and for their precious congregation.
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