Category Archives: Move of God

-Needed –A New Charismatic Reformation

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Michael| 3 Comments

(Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr)

This is also a great time to consider the real need for a reformation of the Charismatic and Pentecostal churches in America.

J. Lee Grady proposes a new reformation along with new theses for change in this article:

“It’s (Past) Time for a Charismatic Reformation”

Here’s the Theses of change that Grady proposes:

1. Let’s reform our theology.

2. Let’s return to the Bible.

3. It’s time for personal responsibility.

4. Stop playing games.

5. Stop the foolishness.

6. End all spiritual extortion now.

7. No more Lone Rangers.

8. Expose the creeps.

9. Stop faking the anointing.

10. Let’s return to purity.

11. We need humility.

12. No more big shots.

13. Never promote gifts at the expense of character.

14. Hold the prophets accountable.

15. Let’s make the main thing the main thing.

Read the whole article to see his comments and explanations under each of the 15 theses. At least a good start and something to consider and pray about. May God bless and reform his church. Let it begin to day and let it begin with us. *Top

Posted in American Church, Charismatic Movement, Move of God, Reformation, Revival

Tagged Reformation Day

-Happy Reformation Day!

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

Door of the Schlosskirche (castle church) in W...

(Image via Wikipedia)

~~Happy Halloween~~ –Happy Reformation Day!

I know. October 31st is known for witches, goblins, pumpkins, and trick or treat.

It is amazing to me how in the last 20 years or so Halloween has gone from a one night ‘celebration’ to become an entire season of it’s own with parties and decorations that span nearly an entire month. Plus it has become an excuse for every TV station to flood the air with the worst horror movies of all time -not a genre that I am particularly fond of.

However, this is also the anniversary of a real earth shaking -game changing- historical event that altered the face of Europe and forever changed the Christian Church. It happened on October 31, 1517.

On that day, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany starting The Reformation.

The enemy likes to use this day for propagating his dark agenda but it was also on this day nearly 500 years ago that a genuine move of God was initiated that still continues. The beginning of a revival right in the face of the enemy on his own day.

Let’s redeem this dark day and pray for God to continue to reform and revive his church. Let’s also in remembrance of the original Reformation pray today for a new awakening to begin in America. May a new door of renewal and revival open in America that no man can shut. In Jesus name, Amen *Top

Posted in American Church, Awakening, Move of God, Reformation, Revival

Tagged Halloween, Reformation Day

-Times, Seasons, and Transition

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

(via Wikipedia)

The times we are in remind me of the old Byrd’s hit song- ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ (Based on Eccl. 3:1).

The first line is particularly poignant:

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”

We are in a time of transition in the natural with fall in our midst and Winter on the way. Actually out here in So. California, September is usually an extension of Summer when it comes to hot weather. Now with October, the change is finally happening and cooler weather and rain is on the way.

On the Spiritual front, we are in the midst of the Biblical (Jewish) holy week with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) coming on Saturday. It is a week of transition from the old year to the new. In the older covenant, believers would consider their lives over the last 12 months and seek God’s forgiveness for any shortcomings and dedicate themselves to improvement for the year ahead.

Lot’s of Christians over the years have noticed that changes in their ministry seem to take place usually around this time of the year. I can see that pattern in my own life and ministry. In fact, several that I know in prophetic ministry specifically believe that during this week they ‘go under the Shepherd’s rod’ and are evaluated by The Master.

When you look at what is happening around the world it is easy to see that we are in a time of transition and no one seems to really know how it is all going to play out in the next year or so. Is America going down like so many seem to think and is China really going to replace us as the new ‘super power’?

In the Middle East, everything has been thrown up in the air following the so-called ‘Arab Spring’. Iran wants to destroy Israel and they will probably have nuclear weapons sometime in the next year or two. The Iranian Supreme leader says that the 12th Imam is appearing to him and is coming soon to lead the Muslims to world domination. Turkey is now styling itself as a new ‘Islamic power’ on the rise and their leaders are talking about establishing a new Muslim Caliphate. Their goal is to dominate the World and bring on one world religion –Islam.

Notice that no one wants to be friends with Israel anymore. Even the USA seems to be turning it’s back on the Holy Land. Are we entering the end of the ‘end-times’?

The nations are in turmoil, natural calamities have risen to Biblical levels. The world economy is in shambles. The whole world is looking for a leader or some group to rise up and solve all of these impossible problems both politically and economically.

Look at the current state of the American Church. The mainline churches have turned their back on Biblical teaching –even now the Presbyterians. The Southern Baptists have been losing members and are now considering a name change. A week doesn’t seem to go by without a new scandal rising up concerning one Charismatic or Pentecostal preacher or another.

We are definitely in a time of transition. Old leaders and denominations are falling and new ones will rise up to take their place. God is setting his church in order.

Right now is a good time for all of us in the ministry to get down on our knees and seek a clear understanding and vision of where we are right now and where the lord wants to take us. If changes need to take place in our lives- now is the time to make them.

Now is the time to repent of past failures and seek a closer relationship with the Master. it is His church after all. We keep praying –”thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done” -It is now time to really mean it and truly understand what we are asking for. Now is the season to Turn, Turn, Turn. *Top

Posted in American Church, Biblical Calendar, Christian Living, Economy, End Times, Intimacy w/ God, Islam, Israel, Move of God, Repentance

Tagged Transition

-Greenland: A Sovereign Work Among the Inuit

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

Image via Wikipedia

Greenland is that big island on the world map in the north between Canada and Iceland. The land mass is huge but only 58,000 or so live there and most of them are native Inuit (88%), many of which have immigrated from Canadian islands.

There has been a Christian mission there for over 40 years with very little success. Now God is reaching out to the Inuit people and for the first time ever they are now beginning to outnumber the Europeans in church. A remarkable story:

“God’s Love Melting Hearts in Icy Greenland”

Response: Another people and nation where God is sovereignly moving and calling out and harvesting his people.

It occurs to me that this might be just the beginning. After a strong core of Inuit Christians are established in Greenland then the islands and north country of Canada could be next. It is really remarkable that a brother from Singapore is instrumental in this move.

Look for the Asian Church, especially the Chinese and Korean Christians, to rise up and bring revival all around the world. Particularly in places where Americans and Europeans are not able to go or not all that welcome. *Top

Posted in Harvest, Move of God

Tagged Move of God

-Praying for Libya and The Muslim Nations in Turmoil

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Michael| 1 Comment

Map of commonly included MENA (Middle East & N...

(Image via Wikipedia)

The 42 reign of Gaddafi seems to be coming to an end. Egypt is up in the air and Syria faces major revolts. Even Jordan has been affected by demonstrations against the government. The whole Muslim Middle east and Northern Africa is in the state of flux. How it will all end nobody knows.

One thing for sure, we need to be praying for the people and for the Gospel to finally be free to touch the lives of 100’s of millions presently subjected to the darkness of Islam. These nations are obviously being shaken for a purpose. At the same time, we know that in many of these nations there is an on-going illegal ‘secret revival’ where millions of Muslims are becoming followers of the real Jesus through dreams, visions. and healings.

One Christian leader, Nik Ripken of the International Mission Board, is hoping for the Roman road to be open once more to facilitate the spread of Christianity. Ripken is asking believers worldwide to pray for the kind of stability in Libya where access to Jesus will be a basic human right. Christianity has long been restricted in that nation:

“Often we ask people to pray that governments provide the safety and security necessary for the gospel to spread, such as the early church had under the Roman Empire. But when stability is the stability of governments that deny their people even access to Jesus, then that is the worst form of persecution.”

There is a shaking going on among the nations. Charismatics and Pentecostals give lip service to the idea that God is really in charge of events going on around the world.

Now is a good time for us to join in prayer and pray for revival to continue unabated and reach a new level in Muslim countries that are now facing instability. May the new governments that replace the old make it more possible for greater religious freedom among the people of that region. Lord let the revival continue and increase. *Top

Posted in Africa, Islam, Middle East, Missions, Move of God, Revival

Tagged Middle East, North Africa, Prayer

-5 Trends Facing the American Church?

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

(Image by shioshvili via Flickr)

Are the bells tolling for the American church?

From LifeWay Research comes the following trends which may soon affect American Churches:

1. Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in more than a century. According to our current research, the Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, will have a very low Christian representation. Our estimates now are that only 15 percent are Christian. With a huge population of nearly 80 million, that means that nearly 70 million young people are not Christians.

2. The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent. Only 13 percent of the Millennials rank any type of spiritual matter as important to their lives. They are not angry at churches and Christians. They simply ignore us because they do not deem us as meaningful or relevant.

3. Senior adult ministries in churches will experience steep declines. As the large Baby Boomer generation moves into their older years, they will resist any suggestion that they are senior adults, no matter how senior they may be. Unfortunately, many churches are slow to adapt to new realities. If they do senior adult ministry the way they’ve always done it, it will be headed for failure.

4. The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel. Our data is anecdotal for now, but we are seeing indications that the Boomers may actually become more interested in spiritual matters in general and Christianity specifically. If so, this trend will be counter to other trends where adults tend to become less receptive to the gospel as they age. The Baby Boomers have tried it all and found no joy. They may likely turn to the hope of the gospel.

5. Family will be a key value for both of the large generations. For the Millennials, family is their most important value. Nearly eight out of ten of the Millennials ranked family as the important issue in their lives. They told us that they had healthy relationships with their parents who, for the most part, are Baby Boomers. Some churches say they are family friendly, but few actually demonstrate that value. Churches that reach both of these generations will make significant changes to become the type of churches that foster healthy family relationships.

Read the whole thing: Five major trends for churches in America

Response: Many secular folks are anticipating a huge decline in membership for Christian Churches in America. As the Boomer generation gets older and begins to depart from this earth, many expect that the Christian influence in America will finally decline and go the same way as Europe.

The key to that expectation lies with the small number of Millennials that are actually Christians and involved in churches in America. The writer of the Lifeway article views this as a wide open domestic mission field opportunity.

In the next generation, will churches be closed up and shuttered all across America like Europe or will a new move of God bring an entire generation to Christ? The demographics are definitely against the church. I suggest that we pray for the later and participate in a new move instead. We obviously need a new awakening In America. *Top

Posted in American Church, Awakening, Move of God

Tagged American Church

-Revival Report: Move of God in Paris (Not France but Arkansas)

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

(hickory hardscrabble via Flickr)

Paris, Arkansas is a town of 3,500 or so and far less famous than the city you all know about in France. First Assembly of God in Paris planned to hold ‘revival’ services beginning in February but God changed the date a gave them the real deal in January instead.

According to Senior Pastor Ken Maness when the new year rolled around he just knew God was about to do something big:

“The Lord just began to move. People were just getting healed. We were just having tremendous services; people getting saved.”

“In modern times I have not witnessed people literally being under so much conviction that they would get up and run to the altar. But we saw that time and time again. Just run, just desperate to get to the altar to give their hearts to God. That was just tremendous.”

Meanwhile folks traveled quite a distance to worship there and experience the outpouring which lasted 11 weeks and culminated with 155 salvations and 114 baptisms in the Holy Spirit. Then according to Pastor Maness the intensity began to wane:

“That convicting power was just not there like it was.”

Though the revival officially ended in April, the Lord continues to move in Paris changing the hearts and lives of many. According to Pastor Maness:

“[The Lord] has brought us, I think, into a time of taking care of the harvest and taking care of the fruit from our revival … I really felt like He spoke to my heart and said and encouraged us as a church … to take care of the fruit of this revival so He can trust us for another outpouring—for future outpourings.”

Response: I envision outpourings like this in communities all across North America. Each one will be somewhat unique and especially designed for that area and some will last longer than others.

This is just one of the first few kernels of revival corn to pop. Eventually there will be moves of God happening in so many places that it will be difficult to keep track of them all. Praise the Lord for small beginnings and unexpected glorious results. *Top

Posted in Move of God, Revival, Revival Report

Tagged Revival

-Let’s Pray for Our ‘Dead Cows’

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

Here’s an inspirational story from The Gospel for Asia: God Uses Dead Cow to Bring Salvation to Entire Family

It is the story of how God used a dead cow to bring the gospel to a village in Asia. A miracle reviving of a dead cow opened up hearts to Jesus.

Response: It is time for us comfortable Western Christians to reach out and pray for our own ‘dead cows’ and open up the way for God to work miracles.

It might be a failed business or marriage. A relationship given up on long ago. It could revolve around someone who you think could never come to Christ. It could be someone who needs to be healed.

Sometimes it is risky to pray for others or particularly to even ask someone if they wouldn’t mind being prayed for. The results could be a miracle that changes lives. God does it but we must still participate by asking for the miracle or healing in the first place.

It is time for us to participate in a revival culture- one that expects God to move. What would have happened when Elijah confronted the priests of Baal if all he did was silently and privately prayed but never publically exercised faith in calling down fire from heaven? *Top

Posted in -Revival Culture, Miracles, Move of God, Signs & Wonders

Tagged Miracles, Move of God

-Knocking on the Door of Europe?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Michael| 1 Comment

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. –Rev.3:20 (ESV)

Jesus is currently knocking on the door of every nation. A great harvest is taking place all around the world except in the Western nations, particularly Europe. Many have even given up on Europe and forecast that it will be Muslim within a generation.

But wait a second. We have previously written about a current move of God among the Roma people (Gypsies) and even in Hungary and now here are two stories about folks coming to Christ in France and Portugal:

Palau Leads Historic Gospel Campaign in France

Portugal Sees Fruit of Evangelism Efforts

Both of these examples come from evangelistic groups (Palau and Billy Graham Evangelistic Associations) which traditionally have been involved in larger meetings and campaigns but in this case their efforts are on a much smaller scale but the results are remarkable nevertheless.

Is the door of Europe finally creeping open? One can only hope and pray. In both of these cases the Holy Spirit is doing his part for sure. *Top

Posted in Europe, Evangelism, Harvest, Move of God

Tagged Europe, Evangelism

-Hope in the Hispanic Ministry at The Crystal Cathedral

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

The exteriors of Crystal Cathedral. Garden Gro...

(Image via Wikipedia)

Last Christmas Eve I attended along with several of my family one of the services at Crystal Cathedral and was shocked at the changes taking place there. The congregation had declined significantly and the choir was a quarter of the size it use to be plus none of the top name professional musicians were there like they usually are.

Our family has been going to Christmas Eve services at the cathedral for more than 20 years and it always is a wonderful holiday experience but not so much this last year.

Since then, the Crystal Cathedral has gone into bankruptcy and the buildings and property are being sold. Meanwhile the graying and depleted congregation that was a mega church for an entire generation in Southern California is left to leasing their own former buildings.

Now for the Good News

However in the midst of all of the trouble and depressing decline there is an unlikely move of God going on in the Hispanic Ministry at the church. The Spanish speaking services continue to grow at an exponential rate.

Since former Argentine Assemblies of God pastor Dante Gebel was put in charge of the Crystal Cathedral’s Hispanic ministry 2 years ago it has grown from 300 to 3,000 people, and is actually now larger than its parent English speaking congregation. Plus the services are far more Charismatic and Pentecostal and nothing like the traditional English services there.

Pastor Gebel expects his congregation to reach over 10,000 in the next year or so. It is a real blessing to see this kind of growth and this hidden move going on especially when all we hear about locally is all of the bad news when it comes to the Crystal Cathedral. *Top