A New Side Of Prepping

Yesterday I wrote on revival and more specifically the growing wave of His presence in the New England area. Many many people read and shared this word with friends and of course, I would like to say thank you. I think the growing consensus is that what we embraced, held fast during powerful times of revival, renewal and the presence of God did not carry over into the lives we lived. I get it. People quit jobs, left spouses and abandoned children. But any believer who has opened their Bible knows that, that type of behavior is NOT reflective of God, His character or His teaching. That response was not God.

So, I am sure that many are a little unsure as to the results of an awakening of God’s presence.

Let me share some things from a personal perspective. I have been a believer for 25 years. I cut my teeth with some amazing teachers and folks who knew the word of God was powerful and important. During that time I saw some amazing things. From there I began to travel to outpourings, meetings and what many call revival. I traveled and taught. I taught schools and congregations. My wife and I pastored for 15 years until we understood that is not who we are. In my 25 years I have seen a lot. I have had the honor of serving with some of the finest people on earth. I also had my share of failures and failed relationships in the church.

God pours out His Spirit upon all people and things happen. In the midst of it you have people who have lived lives of poverty, addiction, abuse and more. They are more in need of solid teaching and discipleship than to just fall under the power of God alone. I am not saying that God is not able to deliver. But anyone who has been around more than a few years knows it is the thinking process that most often entraps and puts folks “off track”.

Add in those who were wounded or hurt by people during these times and it is easy to see that things could be looked at with a wary eye. Deception and dishonesty though are not part of the character of God.

But in the midst of that the wave is coming. Even in the middle of the night I awoke to hear what could only be called the sounds of revival. The patterns of His presence. I am not suggesting that He is going to appear the “way” He did in Brownsville or Toronto, Smithton or Lakeland. But I am convinced that His presence will carry joy, healing and miracles. I am more assured that there is a generation who is looking for the transformation of a community, a state, a nation. And with that in mind I think the “hands off” is more in play than ever before. You will still have the folks of church government, five fold, elders and deacons. But these people are not here here to keep God out but to provide a place of “safety” for His people. To make sure folks are not “fleeced” or taken dishonestly to the cleaners. My relationships with other leaders is that they are desirous of community transformation and change. They are not looking to “get in the way” of God’s move and presence.

It is not enough to have God show up without people who know what to do with what He is doing.

It is one thing to speak of the wave. The big one. The one that has begun to appear in the distance. It is another thing to know this is the time to prepare, to be ready, to paddle. And yet even using the surf analogy, or a tsunami or a quake too often points to a time or a season and NOT an ongoing move. Each week new folks appear in our fellowship as they do other places. Each week it becomes clearer and clearer to me as people ask about God He is up to something.

Many years ago I ministered with a friend of nearly my whole life of salvation. I remember as we were in a church service he shared of a witch doctor who was coming to “wreck the meeting”. My friend inquired about this witch doctor and found out he was deaf in one ear. He simply announced to the others in the room “this is a set up FOR GOD!” That night as the tent meeting opened, sure enough this witch doctor moved into the edge of the tent. As he prepared to cast his spells and to intimidate, my friend simply pointed to him and said “be healed in the name of Jesus”. In that moment the man jumped up with his hand to his ear and began to scream. He could hear! The next day he came back and friends began to disciple him in the word of God. He had two buildings where he and his disciples met for their black arts. In that following week they all came to the salvation of the Lord and studied His word.

The health care debacle? It is nothing more than a set up for the Lord God to appear. Healing is the children’s bread. Heroin and abuse? A set up for His presence to invade. Romans 5:20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

We are in an amazing time. God is the God who reveals and restores. Heals and makes whole. Who does He use? His people!

Over the years I have the opportunity to be with some amazing people. I think that all we have shared, all we have embraced and all we have seen has been for this moment in time. I am ready. Are you?

If it was simply to “surf” we would take lessons, buy the right clothes and get a board. (I am sure there is something in this analogy that speaks to spiritual things though I am not going down that road today.) But this presence of God and lives are in the balance. Every man, woman and child is NOT going surfing, but boy, could they use His healing in their bodies, His word in their minds and His peace in their lives. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts in this hour is to be one who carries the presence and shares it with others.

Over the last few weeks in my home group I have shared on hearing God and hearing Him for yourself. Next week I break it open to hearing for your family and then on to your community and nation, followed with the last week with a practical to prophecy and hearing God, My heart is they will take this and break it out to others. To multiply the bread of God. So that others might hear and recognize His voice. That they might impart this gift their family and friends and we would see change. I am convinced that transformation is possible and that so many are on board.