Revival
Isaiah 63:15 - Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? This was part of the prayer Isaiah penned more than 50 years before the Babylonian Captivity. I believe that it also stands for us as a template for how we should be praying for revival. We are in a time of pressing in to lay hold of the Lord, like Jacob wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, we cannot let go until the Lord blesses as He promises he will (blessing is, after all at the core of 2 Chronicles passage 7:14). (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 25th, 2007 in Revival | 2 Comments »
Here is an article, which I found to be a blessing.
Tears have a language just as definite and emphatic as smiles or gestures. Words do not constitute the only language we speak, for everywhere there are many languages spoken by every human being. There is a language in our gait, our tones of voice, our eyes, smiles, gestures, and our physical movements, in our laughter, facial expression, and in our tears. (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 25th, 2007 in Revival | 1 Comment »
I found this a challenging, and useful meditation on revival. Please consider it.
A true revival is preeminently the work of the Holy Spirit, and the depth and magnitude of the work depends largely on the number of people who are in perfect union with the Holy Spirit. In times of revival all spiritual forces come to a crisis, both good and bad. Satan is on hand to muster all his children against a thorough work of grace. He will also be busy in society, devising all sorts of social matters against revival. He will influence all weak, half-hearted believers in every way against a thorough work. He will do everything to discourage workers. He will make them sick or cripple their zeal, or tempt them in some way to grieve the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is more frequently grieved by hidden things than by things that are outward and visible. In times of revival it is almost impossible to get six persons out of a large community, who in heart perfectly agree. There may be an outward profession of unity, and no one may detect any definite sign of disharmony, yet the human heart is so deceitful, and the interior conditions of perfect harmony require such utter unselfishness and transparency of spirit, that very few persons ever comply with them in the sight of God. The following are some of the things that grieve the Holy Spirit and hinder Him in revivals: (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 24th, 2007 in Revival | 2 Comments »
I went to see this movie called “Lars and the real girl.” It is a story about this guy, Lars who is a bit of a recluse and a social misfit. He lives in the garage of his brother and sister-in-law’s house. He has a sort of vanilla folder job and he’s incredibly socially inept. He is a gentle soul, but underneath there is something wrong, something out of order.
He is a church goer by the way, and appears to take his faith pretty seriously. Everyone in the town seems to have a bit of a soft spot for him. Then, for no apparent reason he develops a delusion. He orders a “real-life” doll, and begins introducing her around town (beginning with his brother & sister-in-law) as his new girlfriend. The thing is he is deadpan serious. Now this is quite funny in the beginning, but then when he doesn’t stop it becomes a dilemma for this entire town. What in the world do they do about Lar’s “synthetic” girlfriend. (Whom, by the way he has stay at his brother’s house to avoid any appearance that they are behaving inappropriatly.)
Go see the movie, if your inclined toward the quirky. I really liked it.
But it also touched off some thoughts (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 19th, 2007 in Revival | 1 Comment »
I don’t know how many know that I am up in Boston, MA preaching five times over the next few days. I will begin tonight at the “Youth Congress” being held at New Life Baptist Church in Medford, MA. I will preach tonight at 7, tomorrow night at 7, twice on Sunday and conclude with a message on Monday night. I am here, by the grace of God preaching on revival, the Kingdom of God and the Fatherhood of God.
The last week of November I head off for a few days to Kansas City, KA to be with David Bryant, the board of Paradise and leaders from around the U.S. assembling for a special meeting related to Paradise, the gathering to exalt Jesus Christ planned for next Memorial Day. Now you might be asking yourself the question: What’s the Black Dwarf doing at that thing? Isn’t he a rather obscure fellow? And I have an answer for you - I don’t know how or why I was asked to be there - I’m just along for the ride.
Sunday evening Dec. 2nd I was invited to go and speak at West Essex Baptist Church in Livingston. I am most honored to be given a chance to go and share my heart with what has become a sister church to Lamb of God. Now you may ask the question - What in the world is the Black Dwarf doing? Is he blowing his own horn? Is he so starved for recognition that he must tell everyone what he is doing?
The answer is no to those questions. However, there is a reason. God, quite apart from any assistance from me, is opening doors that are new, and these are doors I did not seek. God, for reasons that are mysterious to me is beginning to call me out to new things, to new places and to new opportunities. Recently a young prophetic lad (and I mean young) came to me and told me that a “shift” is coming to Lamb of God, and a “release” is coming to me. I frankly do not know what that means. It is really up to the Lord to manage these matters. I consider myself very blessed to be associated with Lamb of God. Lamb of God is my family, and that has less to do with being the pastor and more to do with the dear, sweet lifetime friendships that God has so graciously given me over these past 20 years.
Anyway, I sound like an old man. I guess it because I am away, and I miss you all very much. You are in the very capable hands of Todd Polyniak, or “Little Todd” as they call him in Brazil (he is preaching on Sunday). I will return to Jersey on Tuesday morning (I hate missing the Tuesday prayer meeting, pray on lads!)
Peace in the name of Jesus
as Gregorio says so well - revival is my food and drink…
“the black dwarf”
Posted by Scott on November 16th, 2007 in Revival | 1 Comment »
After seeing this (in my email) up here in Boston, I thought it ought to be on the web site….
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12
As a lucky few of us have been learning in Lon’s theology class, “holiness” isn’t simply another word for righteousness. To be Holy is to be sanctified or set apart. The “otherness” of the God we serve is best summed up in the whisper and thunder of this word that has been spoken throughout the ages: “HOLY!” (more…)
Posted by Scott on November 16th, 2007 in Revival | No Comments »
The great revivalist and preacher R.A. Torrey wrote: “There have been revivals without much preaching; there have been revivals with absolutely no organization; but there has never been a mighty revival without mighty praying.”
Wednesday, Sept. 12 something significant happened for the Cry for Awakening; we prayed together for the first time in a historically African American church for revival. I wonder if you have been gripped like I have by just how special this prayer gathering was? Perhaps you have forgotten that this year represents the 40th year anniversary of the Newark Riots. Only 40 years ago racial tension, and bigotry were the order of the day. Yet, even 40 years later we, as Christians have still not been able to see the kind of racial healing that ought to be characteristic of people of The Way. (more…)
Posted by Scott on September 14th, 2007 in Revival | 3 Comments »
I would like to share my reflections on the three days that Gregorio and Monica Mcnutt were with us. I have many different thoughts, many different feelings and impressions that have been floating in and out of my mind these past few days.
First, I want to say that Gregorio and Monica are wonderful people who have a very sweet love and devotion to Jesus that I find to be rare. Gregorio turned his back on a family fortune for the sake of following the missionary call. He is a man of great passion for Jesus, for the gospel, for revival and for reaching the lost.
Even though he is American born, he is culturally not an American, with little sensitivity to things like schedule or time contraints. He preached really long. He wasn’t the greatest singer. He meandered all over the place when he spoke. Yet, at least for me, God really spoke to my heart. At one point on Saturday night, even before Gregorio spoke I wept so hard that my entire body shook. During that time the Lord spoke powerfully to me, through the obedient ministry of one of the sisters in the church. I was greatly encouraged by God reassuring me that He was in fact going to bring revival. (more…)
Posted by Scott on August 29th, 2007 in Revival | 2 Comments »
Human nature… hmmmm…. Good Lord, what can we do with ourselves? We are fragile, and fool-hardy. We are easily hyped and manipulated by our emotions. Okay, Dwarf… what’s your point?
Here’s my point - I want more of God! I want Him to break through all the fraility and I want Him to show His mighty hand. I have been praying now everyday, almost the same prayer for nearly three years. Inside I prepare myself to wait on God. Inside my heart I have little conversations with myself. Stay balanced, don’t get too extreme, be careful to walk on the tight rope between expectation and patience. But I want the Spirit to overwhelm, to take us to a new place of Kingdom reality. God has broken my threshold of tears. Now I can’t seem to turn them off. I feel a tenderness in my heart and it leaks. When Gregorio said that our prayers need to be washed in tears, I now know what that means.
I don’t want to be hyped, or to do any “hyping.” Gregorio is a special guy. He is one part of the body of Christ whom the Lord has brought to us. He has something to share, something to impart. I don’t know how big a download the Lord has for us, and I want to be careful not to suggest anything more than what it is. Problem is, I don’t know what it is. So I am asking the Lord to arrange things the way He wants them, and I am doing my best to stay out of the way.
All we can do is ask the Lord to give us open, tender hearts able to receive whatever good things He wants to use our brother to bring to us. Gregorio quoted this passage from Romans 15 (on the short video clip we watched this past sunday) (29) I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Let’s pray and ask the Father to fulfill that desire in our midst.
Posted by Scott on August 20th, 2007 in Revival | No Comments »
Over the next few posts I want to reflect a bit on the end of summer, and where God is taking Lamb, and the Cry for Awakening.
First, the time in Brazil was very helpful to me. Also, I can’t say how important it is for the book “The Heavenly Man” to make its way through the church. Brother Yun (the focus of the book) responded to the question “Why is China experiencing revival but most places in the West are not?” He responds with this (pages 296-297) “When I am in the West I see all the mighty church buildings and all the expensive equipment, plush carpets and state of the art sound systems. I can assure the Western church with absolute certainty that you don’t need any more church buildings. Church buildings will never bring the revival you seek. The pursuit of more possessions will never bring revival. Jesus truly stated, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15) (more…)
Posted by Scott on August 13th, 2007 in Revival | No Comments »
