I had a dream just before awakening this morning that stirred me deeply. I have to tell the conclusion of the dream before I share the content. As the dream was ending, I was being approached by a number of young Christians who were saying, "I've never seen this happen before, have you?" To which I replied, "I have seen a match burning, and I have seen a fireplace burning, but I have never seen a house ablaze or a forest fire."
The context was a movement among Christians who were permeating their culture with the love and power of God. The dream centered around a massive community (of what looked like apartments) in which people were gathering in homes for bible study, discipleship and then reaching out to their neighbors.
I entered the dream about this time and was welcomed with hugs by people I knew from my past. There was an atmosphere of celebration and dining. Each person shared with me what they had seen God do recently, and I shared my perspective as well. Then, as we looked at the sea of people approaching us, someone said to me, "I have never seen this happen before...have you?"
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My answer seems to be the reply I would still give if asked about revival fire. I have seen a match burning...individual Christians on fire with the love of God. I have seen a fireplace burning...small groups passionately pursuing God and His purposes for this world. But I have not yet seen a house burning (church?) or a forest fire (region) on fire for Him. And I believe that this dream was a picture of us looking out and seeing the tinder of men and women ready for the fire of God. I pray that the Spirit of God in me and you be fire to this tinder!
Showing posts with label Revival in Ohio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revival in Ohio. Show all posts
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Revive to Survive
Last week, after a tough couple of days and some troubling news concerning several of our members deciding it was time to move on, I was have difficulty sleeping (Tues. March 23rd). Waking at 2:30 am to let the dog out, I went back to sleep, or at least a twilight sleep and had two words appear in my mind. "Revival" and "Survival." A voice told me that the difference between these two words is minor, just a few letters, but the meaning of these two words is much more significant.
When I awoke, I tried to recall the words, and only remembered "revival.' But a day later, in a conversation with Jennifer, the word "Survival" came back to me and the impact of the dream/vision became clearer.
Then, on Friday night, we went to the "Wave" at Gateway to see some friends and to celebrate God together. I asked several people for prayer and shared the dream with them. They were very encouraging. But on Saturday, the strangest thing happened. It was stranger than having a donkey talk, actually. As I was watching the College Basketball playoffs, a banner rolls across the bottom of the screen, an advertisement for a vitamin water. What did it say? "Revive2 Survive.com"
This impacted me greatly, as I realized that if I merely try to "survive" as a pastor or a church leader, or to help the church to merely survive, to maintain the status quo, the present state, or to backtrack to keep people from leaving, I will be in "survival mode." And there is no future in that. If anything, survival is a living death. The only option is Revival. "If my people, who are called by My Name, HUMBLE themselves and PRAY..." (2 Chr. 7:14)
When I awoke, I tried to recall the words, and only remembered "revival.' But a day later, in a conversation with Jennifer, the word "Survival" came back to me and the impact of the dream/vision became clearer.
Then, on Friday night, we went to the "Wave" at Gateway to see some friends and to celebrate God together. I asked several people for prayer and shared the dream with them. They were very encouraging. But on Saturday, the strangest thing happened. It was stranger than having a donkey talk, actually. As I was watching the College Basketball playoffs, a banner rolls across the bottom of the screen, an advertisement for a vitamin water. What did it say? "Revive2 Survive.com"
This impacted me greatly, as I realized that if I merely try to "survive" as a pastor or a church leader, or to help the church to merely survive, to maintain the status quo, the present state, or to backtrack to keep people from leaving, I will be in "survival mode." And there is no future in that. If anything, survival is a living death. The only option is Revival. "If my people, who are called by My Name, HUMBLE themselves and PRAY..." (2 Chr. 7:14)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
More God, More!
This past Friday, 4 of us went to Bethel Church's "Firestorm" at Metro Church in Cleveland. We were blessed beyond our wildest imagination, with Kevin Dedmon giving life changing preaching and testimonies and words of knowledge.
Jennifer and I went back on Saturday during the day for leader training. Of course, we were the only Southern Baptists there...and took a bit of ribbing for it, but all in fun. On Saturday, we had more teaching, prophetic words spoken over us (which hit me like a sledgehammer) and after lunch we (about 40 of us) broke up into groups of 4 and did a "treasure hunt" in the community. (I'll explain that one later). God showed up big time and we saw Him work powerfully in one divine appointment that shook one woman's world to the core.
By Sunday morning, our pump was primed for God. As we went back to Here's Hope, we prepared for worship. God told me to be prepared to sing "You're all I need" and to change it to "I'm all you need." which fit perfectly with the priesthood of the believer sermon I was about to preach. What I didn't expect was that our worship leader had picked a song that included that line in it! God led us to have a time of ministry BEFORE the sermon and at least 15 people came for prayer. One woman was healed of deafness in her left ear. Many others received prayer and commented on feeling the power of God touching them.
Then Sunday night, we had UNO: Unity in Northeastern Ohio - a worship gathering in which about 20 churches gathered for an evening of worship and upbuilding of the body of Christ. Nearly 800 people showed up to praise God together. (found out later that Cleveland had a similar event on the same night). Now we are hearing reports that revival is taking root all over Northeastern Ohio. Wow God! More!
Jennifer and I went back on Saturday during the day for leader training. Of course, we were the only Southern Baptists there...and took a bit of ribbing for it, but all in fun. On Saturday, we had more teaching, prophetic words spoken over us (which hit me like a sledgehammer) and after lunch we (about 40 of us) broke up into groups of 4 and did a "treasure hunt" in the community. (I'll explain that one later). God showed up big time and we saw Him work powerfully in one divine appointment that shook one woman's world to the core.
By Sunday morning, our pump was primed for God. As we went back to Here's Hope, we prepared for worship. God told me to be prepared to sing "You're all I need" and to change it to "I'm all you need." which fit perfectly with the priesthood of the believer sermon I was about to preach. What I didn't expect was that our worship leader had picked a song that included that line in it! God led us to have a time of ministry BEFORE the sermon and at least 15 people came for prayer. One woman was healed of deafness in her left ear. Many others received prayer and commented on feeling the power of God touching them.
Then Sunday night, we had UNO: Unity in Northeastern Ohio - a worship gathering in which about 20 churches gathered for an evening of worship and upbuilding of the body of Christ. Nearly 800 people showed up to praise God together. (found out later that Cleveland had a similar event on the same night). Now we are hearing reports that revival is taking root all over Northeastern Ohio. Wow God! More!
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