I often ask the Lord, "Where are the men and women who walked in such awesome wonder of your love and power that make the rulers of this dark world tremble? Why are we not seeing similar level of your glory today, manifested healings and diverse miracles like the original church experienced in Bible days?"
For example, the deacon Stephen… "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people… And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake… And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." Acts 6:8-15 KJV
Another deacon was Philip… "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city." Acts 8:5-8 KJV
And of course, there was Peter's ministry… "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. Acts 5: 3-5 KJV
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; … Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." Acts 5:12-16 KJV
I pray that these original accounts of revival stir up a deep hunger in you that may just burn a fresh fire in you. I say, let it burn, burn and burn you right into God.
In times like these, filled with darkness and unbelief, religious zealots persecuting the righteous in what seems like the start of a religious cleansing, it is the will of the Lord to show Himself strong in power and strong in love among His own for the world to see that we are Christians.
Yet some believe and say 'if God's willing then He'll do it for us and help us, but if He's not willing, then we just have to go through it all. Who can tell, God is in heaven and we're in the earth, how can you tell what God will do?'
Well, it IS the will of God that we are free of all forms of evil, for He is not the author of evil and it is His will that we KNOW His will.
"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord…" Ephesians 5:14-17 KJV
It is the will of God that you be in health and prosper in your soul; that is, to be free of poverty, disease, oppression, disabilities and all the damnable infirmities this world and the devil can throw at you.
There is a deliberate walk in the Spirit into places of darkness carrying the light of the Word and demonstrating its effectiveness to deliver what God says it will do, regardless of the situations at hand.
The road of revival is that strait and narrow set apart to you as the born again trail by the leadership of the Holy Spirit revealing the will of the Lord to all those who purposefully decide to go there and to diligently seek God. All who take that journey receive the same instructions by the Holy Spirit as we go, as far in Him, as possible to receive what is required to deliver the answer the world needs in all signs, wonders, utterances, and diverse miracles, all delivered from and by the finger of God.
The devil in his efforts to protect his kingdom, will resist you with all he can muster out of his camp, so much so that he will beat you back into a sense-ruled realm to ceiling your gifts by attacking your body, mind, will and emotions with persecutions and afflictions to keep you focused on fighting sickness, disease, pain, finances and the like. Meanwhile, opposing you to back you out of the power of the Spirit, into the sense-ruled realm every step of the way. Distracting you from operating in the power of the Spirit is his way of winning against not only you but, all who receive God's goodness and miraculous breakthroughs. The enemy will try accuse to discredit everything and leave an impression on others that God had nothing to do with your breakthrough.
Jesus said "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented" Luke 10:13 KJV.
They would have a change of heart to move closer to God, instead they accused Jesus of casting out devils with the help of the Beelzebub, the devil, thus distracting them so that they remain the same in their sin of unbelief, still needing someone to pray fro them and teach them to pray in their breakthrough.
To move on into God, we must first believe!
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;" II Corinthians 5:17-18 KJV.
To move on into God, we must next, be changed on the inside!
"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Romans 8:10 KJV.
So believe FIRST and THEN be changed! Not believe and STAY the same. You will always tell the difference between the two group in church today.
I believe a very great majority, if not all of the church today is found in Christ, while a very small group has chosen to have Christ be formed in them.
If any may be in Christ, he continues to desire the milk of the word to grow thereby, for he that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, because they are satisfied as babies all the time feeding on the baby bottle of milk.
But if Christ is formed in you, your desires are for strong meat, because you have come of age to exercise all your senses to discern both good and evil, making a difference in your walk and talk with God.
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6 KJV.
The Book of Hebrews lifts this up a notch and clearly separates the former and latter groups by showing us that it's the latter group that truly makes the difference and gets the reward from God. They are the ones going somewhere to deliver something or someone. They are on the road to revival - filled with signs, wonders and diverse miracles!
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is," Hebrews 11:6a KJV
Like I said, the majority of the church today is walking in Christ, but walking powerlessly, without fruit, without receiving the rewards when they pray; rewards of healing, miracles, deliverance or any form of answered prayer, because they refuse to turn from their ways and be changed on the inside (repent), that Christ be formed on the inside of the believer. They have faith, indeed and they know that God is real, that He is our Father, that He will heal, only if He is willing to do it for some and not for others - God knows my heart kinda Christians they are, you see.
They continue further to believe, but they don't go to church; they believe, but they don't read their Bible; they believe, but they don't pray; they believe, but they don't share their faith in public or witness in private; they believe, but they don't reject sin, not even the immoral lifestyle; they believe, but they don't diligently seek God.
"..and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6b KJV.
However, this next level of believers are, separate and apart, because they made a choice to be changed into His image, that Christ is formed in them. They've purposed in their heart to know Him, to seek him diligently, and do His will (not their will), but that His will be done in all the earth. They have faith, but it's to please the Father in seeking Him, to know, to hear, to understand, to obey and to do according to His word.
They believe, so they fellowship in church; they believe, so they establish a life of prayer; they believe, so they read their Bible; they believe, so they share their faith in public and in private giving testimonies of His goodness and mercies; they believe, so they reject sin and the immoralities of life; they believe, so the worship God in the privacy of life; they believe, so the lay hands on the sick and believe God for signs, wonders and divers miracles to follow all who believe. They believe, so they stand in the sanctuary of their priesthood to minister daily unto the Lord. They believe for all to be healed in the presence of the Lord…
The road to revival is a deliberate walk in the Spirit to declare the word of God in demonstration of His power and mercies. The Father is looking to you who would offer your body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God's habitation to fill your body, soul and spirit, as unprofitable servants to prove His will in perfection.
Come, let us wait upon the Lord together, as we walk along this road by His Spirit… the Bible declares 'And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.' Genesis 5:24 KJV. He'll take you there, only to come back to clear out hospital rooms filled with the infirmed, children's hospitals, psychiatric wards, deaf, dumb, lamed… all to be healed to the glory of God! Amen.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 KJV.
