[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the wave towering over her as it approached her from behind. Her eyes the size of golf balls, her body tense and arms outstretched. She was frozen in a state of panic.\u201d \u00a0I recounted this image to Pastor Shannon at the end of the miracle service Sunday night (2\/11\/2024).<\/p>\n
Service starts like it has many times: Pastor Grace and Pastor Alex leading the team of worshippers and congregants in joyful praise and powerful worship in preparation for what was to come. It is, after all, a miracle service, preceded by 24\/24.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is a sobering message, drawing from three scriptures. In Matthew 11:4, John\u2019s disciples came asking Jesus if He was indeed the Coming One.\u00a0 Jesus informed them, \u201cThe blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Isaiah 61:1, a prophetic word about the Messiah reads, \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n
Jesus referred to this scripture while in the synagogue in Luke 4:18 and 19. After a dramatic pause, He clinched it for his listeners by saying, \u201cToday this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.\u201d Unraveled, the Pharisees remain indignant and defiant, resistant to the words of Jesus.\u00a0 What walking contradictions they were; seeking fulfillment of Isaiah 61, yet blind to the One of whom that scripture spoke. Much like today, there are those looking for revival but because it fails look like or feel like what is expected, they discount that revival is actually here.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not hoping and wishing and believing for revival, revival is here.\u00a0 But can you recognize it? Can you see it?\u201d \u2013 Pastor Josh<\/em><\/p>\n Mark 16:15-18 cite the words of Jesus, \u201cGo into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.\u00a0 And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n How do we define revival?\u00a0 Each of us bring our own expectations to it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll admit, I came with pre-conceived ideas about how this miracle service would unfold. Yet, hinging revival on the happenings of one night seems diminishing to what the Holy Spirit is consistently doing in this season at King\u2019s. People hear the gospel and many are saved each week. Many are healed, filled with the Spirit and lives are changed. We don\u2019t wait for a particular person to bring revival. We expect God by His Holy Spirit to move each day.\u00a0 We desire to stay in a place where our hopes are high and we are expectant.<\/p>\n God\u2019s not our quick fix.\u00a0 On the contrary, He is in it for the long game.\u00a0 God touches us to transform our lives so we are changed into the image of Christ. What if we begin each day ready for a God encounter?\u00a0 What if every single moment we possess cries of a desperation for God\u2019s presence?\u00a0 Could we and those around us stay unchanged? Doubtful. Pray for a holy desperation for God to rest upon the people of King\u2019s.<\/p>\n Words of knowledge and healing ensues: spinal cord pain, legs losing strength, a cry for freedom from desperate hearts.\u00a0 This, Friends, is revival.<\/p>\n Altar time extends and God\u2019s sweet presence rests there. Those who linger find it hard to leave. I did. \u00a0I didn\u2019t want to go. Then, I realize that I can take this with me.\u00a0 Just as we need not wait for a certain person to bring revival, we also do not need to be in a certain place. Revival can be wherever we are; at church, at home, at our work places and out in our communities.<\/p>\n This young woman about to be overrun by a giant wave, looked desperate and scared.\u00a0 In this image, I was facing her.\u00a0 I knew that I was just an observer.\u00a0 As the wave approaches, it was as though the sound was turned off. I remember thinking how strange it was that it didn\u2019t sound like a freight train. Then, a thought: Never turn your back on the ocean!\u00a0 I think I may have tried to yell that to her.\u00a0 Time slows as I watch the wave reach her. Her hair, wave-blown forward. I expect the wave to violently sweep her away, but rather, it parts behind her, above her and around her. The same thought, again. Face. The. Wave.<\/p>\n Here is my take-away. How dispiriting to be in revival, immersed in it, yet to remain unaware and unengaged.\u00a0 I do not want to miss it.\u00a0 I do not want to be passed by. The young lady could represent all of us.\u00a0 How could she not know the wave was coming? How could she stay unaffected by the sheer force of its power? Let us face this wave of revival that Pastor Shannon spoke about. Let us be cognizant of what God wants to do in this hour. Let us be eager participants. This young woman could also represent those who are lost.\u00a0 Her outstretched arms could be a beckoning to us to rescue her.\u00a0 Perhaps her state of panic was that she didn\u2019t understand what was about to happen. Maybe all she needed was for someone to tell her, to help her recognize the life-altering event and its far-reaching impact.\u00a0 Do you know those who need the revival you could bring? Of course you do. We all do. WE are the carriers, to our neighbors, our co-workers, to our friends and our families. WE are the revivalists of this age. \u00a0Let us reframe our thinking.\u00a0 We no longer hope for revival. We are IN revival. Revival is here and it is now!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI saw the wave towering over her as it approached her from behind. Her eyes the size of golf balls, her body tense and arms outstretched. She was frozen in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n aakdfjlaksjdf;laksjfsLKdfj;alsdfj<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-243961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n