Experience over Sound Doctrine

I've noticed a trend in the church today. A trend that has had dire consequences to those who have chosen to move away from the elementary teachings of Christ. Many have fallen away from the truth. In an effort to become relevant the church has changed and removed any terminology that they may consider offensive or non accepting. Some  have gone as far as accept sinful practices in efforts to boost membership and come off less judgmental but at what price? In churches that have chosen to share or spin a more positive gospel have blossomed over the years leaving a remnant of churches who refuse to water down anything to struggle in the shadow of these megachurches. In all honesty there is no way of knowing what the these Christians are doing behind closed doors. There is no accountability or close personal relationships in these megachurches. Some are like attending a Christian concert. More and more the cross diminishes in the flood lights and smoke machines as masses are taken up with the new superstars of Christendom.

Even in prophetic circles the words given are only positive rarely exposing areas that God wants to deal with or bring conviction. Meetings have been given over to experience rather than biblical sound doctrine. Widely accepted practices that are not in the bible are rarely questioned. Instead of hearing about what was preached about from God's Word many Christians come back from their meetings boasting from their latest experience. Sadly, we have become experience oriented instead of biblical oriented. What I mean is that we have exalted experience over soundness of God's Word. This imbalance  is what James talks about. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. Deception comes when we stay out of God's Word and forget that our purpose is to become like Him.

We need to become like Him so the world may want Him. The truth is people want Jesus not us. Our flesh is a joke. We can only hide our awful attitudes and motives for so long before someone notices that we aren't like Jesus at all. Our marriage, family and finances are more of a witness to this world than raising the dead. The gifts of the spirit are awesome but without the character of Christ we will be left pleading with God like the people in Matthew 7:21-23 Lord, Lord didn't we in your name? God is more interested in us being more like Him than ministering for him. We are the ones who want to minister for Him. After all, who doesn't want to be the next Christian superstar for Jesus? What if God called you to total obscurity would you still minister for Him? Would you be content working a regular job and just ministering for Jesus in the market place?

I'm afraid we have enticed the masses and set up schools for ministry just so people can think that one day they too can have a mega ministry and never have to worry about their finances again. It has become a lucrative business. The truth is, most Christians don't even know their bible or what they are supposed to be doing with their lives. Some sell all they have, just to do what they could have done back at home, with time spent with the Holy Spirit. I think deep inside we want somebody to approve us so we can feel credible and legitimate but a piece of paper will never do that. It is the power of God that makes us credible to this world but not without the character to back it up.

The other day I was crying out to God and saying, "I just want to know your heart and mind." While time spent in worship brings revelation of who God is; I also need the correction of the bible to keep me rooted and grounded. Think of a balloon. The things of the spirit are like the balloon and character like the string that keeps it from floating away. God's hand has to firmly keep us from getting into absurd nonsense that has nothing to do with God's mission or purpose. If the manifestation has no exhortation, edification or comfort it has no place in the meetings. Drunkenness in the Holy Spirit should be accompanied with boldness to preach and do something for God not so you can have a laughing party. If you haven't noticed Jesus spent most of His time teaching and preaching as compared to walking in power. Without proper teaching God's church can get into error. We have the Corinthian church as a prime example of people who walked in power but had issues with sin, had meetings that were totally out of order and favored spiritual gifts over love.

One last thing, a real move of God will never steer you away from the bible. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." How did He fulfill it? By obeying it in love. Love is our ultimate act of obedience. There is a reason the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 is in the middle of 12 and 14. Love and God's Word must be in the center of any spiritual gift we practice or any church meeting we have.  Real revival must always move us towards God's Word. In the most beautiful revival ever recorded in biblical history and eight year old discovers this key in the following passage. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. ¹² Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, ¹³ “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22:11-13 Revival never moves away from God's word.

Jesus walked in revival and he never toned down his message, never tried to become relevant, he never went to bible college, or got the approval of men. He lived to love. His life matched His message and the power He walked in was proof that God had sent him. In order to walk like Him we must also take heed to message, method, character, and motive. Revival is sustained in this way.  Beware of any so called movement that encourages you to move away from Christ's teachings or biblical foundational truths. It will never end well. I don't care what kind of results you think you are getting, how many people you think you are helping or how many people are attending. These are not indicators of God's approval on your ministry. The cross of Christ and the call to deny ourselves must never cease from church teachings. To do so will only breed Christians who are fleshly and full of self. Self is the most hideous attributes of humanity. You can never love others if you are full of self. It's root of every kind of sin. It is up to us to pick up the cross everyday as we look to Him the author and finisher of our faith. Amen.

Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com

Prophecy: Revival and Breakthrough 2014

Last night at the meeting I went down under the power of God. Johann laid hands on me and said, "Download!" Here is what God is speaking to His Church.


Three Keys for revival and breakthrough in 2014:

1. Unity - You will not be able to do your tasks alone. God will start honoring those who go out of their way to work with others. He is going to anoint five fold ministers who come into unity and release greater power! There He will command the blessing. Psalm 133 Learn to work as teams during church meetings and evangelistic outreaches. God is emphasizing 555 the trinity of five-fold. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit moving through His Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Pastors and Evangelists. He will be shifting His attention on Evangelists who are sold out. Work with the Evangelist, Pastor. God will start exalting the people who the church has ignored. The street ministers, missionaries and evangelists will now be called forward to lead the way.

2. Harvest - Those who make it their goal and start working in the harvest fields will see a blessing. Harvest fields meaning: Prisons, Hospitals, Streets, Homeless Shelters, Convalescent Hospitals, Mission Fields and wherever there is souls! Church if you want to see revival you will have to leave the four walls. Go to the park, get a tent, get a storefront in the middle of the city. Go where they are. God's Spirit will pour into those who will pour out. Stop waiting for them to come to you. I see mass baptisms taking place outdoors in rivers, oceans and in places that you would not think of using. Get ready for the Johns will arise in this hour and be calling out for people to repent in the River Jordan again!

3. Revival - is not an event! It is the fire of God resting on people whose hearts are transformed by God's presence. People are so used to thinking that it is about an event that when the event is over they go back to the norm. NO! Revival is about your heart being revived unto God. That may happen at a meeting but...fire is maintained in His Presence. If you think that watching your favorite preacher on TV is going to maintain a fire then you are wrong. If you think that you can survive on a 10 min daily devotional and singing to some watered down Christian song on the radio then you are wrong. Revival = fire! You will be ember that will grow cold if you stay out of fellowship with others that are burning. The church has grown cold because there is no altars to burn on. When we are asking God to send revival we are asking God to send fire. Fire consumes friend. God's fire will not rest on an altar that does not have a living sacrifice. Fire will not rest on those who are filled with idolatry. Fire will not rest on those whose hearts are not pure. A guest speaker will never give you fire. You can only get fire when you become His altar. Get rid of the distractions and start to seek God. He is waiting to reveal His Fire Walkers! Lord make us willing to burn for you!

Rebuilding the Walls of a Nation

The king could tell by looking at his servant's face that he was troubled. At that time it was a death sentence to enter the king's courts in that manner. Yet the king regarded his servant. After all, he was his cup-bearer and was willing to die so that the king could live. Many times Nehemiah drank from the king's cup to ensure the king’s safety. The king would never be poisoned because Nehemiah's job was to lay his life down for the king.

It is this quality that caused a humble layman to take action. Laying his life down for others was his job, but now it would become his calling. Nehemiah's distress and angst over the crumbling walls of his nation became his mission. Not knowing what to do, he starts by being an intercessor. He simply starts by repenting for the condition and sins of his nation; this is the same quality we see in our intercessor Jesus. We see Christ knelt in the garden praying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39). Before Jesus could ever become our sacrifice he had to be willing to drink of the King's cup. God will never give us authority over any area we are not willing to lay our lives down for. Like Esther, Nehemiah knew that favor came from having an intimate relationship with the King.

The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord! That's why Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is at hand!" The heart of God is always extended towards us. God has always meant for us to rule and reign with him. He has made us an extension of his authority and dominion through Christ. Just like Jesus we are seated in heavenly places, and like Nehemiah we are able to be intercessors before our King. God is looking for ordinary people to do extraordinary things in this hour. We need to remember that Nehemiah wasn't a priest or prophet; he was a layman. He was what some people would consider a blue-collar worker. Yet God used one man who dared to believe God to bring revival to a nation. God will always use the one to influence the many! In this hour, God is looking for the Martin Luther's, Esther's, Nehemiah's, Daniel's, Deborah's and others who will take a stand for their nation.

Recently in Germany, a woman found out that they were going to invite an Imam to recite prayers in the church that was dedicated to the famous Protestant founder Martin Luther. Not sure if she should go or what she would do, she drove an hour and a half to the church where they were having a concert. The whole purpose of the gathering was to get Christians to accept the Muslim faith. As she stood in the balcony, Heidi Mund was stirred by holy anger and exclaimed, "Jesus Christ alone is Lord of Germany," and shouted, "I break this curse." It was her distress that the walls of her nation were now being breached by an encroaching religion who is presently responsible for killing Christians worldwide that moved her to action. It was her brave efforts that have made the video go viral. In her interview with CBN News, she was asked if she was worried about becoming a target for Muslims. "Many people ask me, 'Are you afraid of the Muslims?' And I can only say, 'No, I'm not afraid of them,'" she told CBN News. "I know my God, the living God of the Bible can protect for me for as long as he wants. When my time is over, I will go to him." She was escorted out of the church.

There will always be opposition whenever we do something for God, especially if we take on the task of rebuilding something the enemy has torn down. The enemy becomes furious when we become serious; this is what happened in Nehemiah's time.

"But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” (Nehemiah 4:1-2)

The devil will always mock the idea of our task of rebuilding. He will first attack our identity. Remember what he said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God..." He will also mock our ability, "Turn these stones into bread!" However, if you really want to know what makes the devil nervous it is the offer of sacrifice. Sanballat is a type of the devil. He asked, "Will they offer sacrifices?" Why does this make the devil mad and worried? Sacrifice restores relationship in the Old Testament. Jesus is our sacrifice. In the New Testament, sacrifice is the ultimate act of love. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

This sacrificial love is what Nehemiah was walking in. He was willing to gain favor with the king, to be mocked by others, and ridiculed for rebuilding the walls to his nation. He, of course, could not do this alone; he needed help. He needed people who were willing to have tools in one hand and weaponry in the other hand. He needed people who would fight to rebuild the walls and gates that had been burned down. Not only did Sanballat mock their ability, but he also said this, "Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” Here is a prophetic word that came to me regarding this:

What made you burn in anger in the last season will make you burn for God in this season. The devil has provoked God's people long enough, and now he has pushed the envelope. Without knowing it, the devil has provoked us unto love and good works. The fire of the last season will be used as fuel for this season. See, when you burn something it ignites quicker. It is actually a survival technique. You burn a char cloth and save it for later so that it can be used for fire. God has saved what was burned in the last season to start a fire! Be encouraged because God is going to use the ashes of what remained in your life to light His fire! You are an ember that is ready to be sparked!

See, God is going to raise up Nehemiah's in this next season, and they are going to revive the burned out stones and take up humanity from the ash heaps of rubbish to build up the walls of America. The Lord can revive his church in one day and undo the destruction of generations! Nehemiah's army of workers rebuilt the walls in 52 days. Church, we need to stop looking for pretty cut stones. All around us is the rubble of burnt up humanity, laying around in piles, waiting to be picked up. Are you willing to dig into the piles of burnt, charred, and broken humanity? Jesus was. Maybe you are one of these burned out stones and have barely survived the last few seasons of testing. The Bible calls us living stones!

1Peter 2:5 “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Burnt or not, God is going to use what the enemy has done to this generation to ignite us and cause us to burn for Him! We may not realize this, but we are standing before the water gate! If we just allow our worship and prayers of repentance to go up before God, we will find ourselves standing before the audience of the King. The walls of God's holy standards will once again be erected in our nation, and the floodgates of revival will burst open washing away the ashes we once stood in.  

“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

Let's look at Nehemiah 8:1-4

“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. ² So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. ³ Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

Look at where they were standing; they were standing in front of the water gate! Church, you are now in a season of rebuilding. God is looking for Nehemiahs and skilled workers to rebuild the walls of nations. Just like that German woman, he wants his people to declare, "Jesus is Lord over this nation,” and “we break every curse that speaks contrary!" Though people may mock our efforts, at what seems like a feeble attempt of a few people, we have something in our hands, “We have letters from the King and His favor to rebuild the walls of our nation once again!" May the watergate break open in Jesus name! Amen!

Where Is Jesus?

I can't explain the grief I feel in my heart as yet more scandals break out among Christian leaders and churches here in America. I got on my knees this morning and took my husband's hand to ask God to give us more character. I know that if my heart is breaking, that God's heart is breaking even more as wanton lawlessness continues to spread through the church like a virus. There are whole groups of people out there that would rather turn the blind eye than to look at the spots, wrinkles and blemishes on Christ's bride. I don't know about you but I hate getting stains on my clothes. Most people do. As soon as something drops onto our clothes our immediate reaction is to try to clean it off. Yet, churches keep their stains behind pulpits defiling the masses of people who hear them make excuses for their greed and licentiousness. God will not wink at sin no more. and He will not accept a bride who has stained the bridal clothes He has washed in His precious blood. 

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 

Acts 17:30-31

I see it in the newslines almost everyday as Christians around the world suffer severe persecution for their faith. Children picking through trash in Egypt, Christian missionaries requiring immediate help out of their countries or face death. Where is the money for their release? It is being spent on lavish homes, vacations, and buildings. Recently, they found a pastor and his wife, guilty of funneling money to his wife's Hollywood pop star career. They justified it by saying they were trying to crossover into secular media and be an influence there. How can they be? When his wife is seductively dressed and looks nothing like Jesus. Instead of the church being a Joseph in the time of famine, millions of dollars are misspent on lavish living all the while American parishioners struggle with homelessness, hunger and widespread poverty. It sickens me and it sickens God.


“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelations 3:15-18)
In the above scripture, Jesus, lets the church know that even though they think they need nothing and are quite content with their status quo, that they are actually blind to their spiritual condition. His counsel is for them to buy gold refined in the fire. There is no other way to rid ourselves of the spiritual blindness, lukewarmness, and shame; other than to be baptized in fire. It is the only way to gain heaven's riches and get our robes to become white again! It is fire that will cause us to reflect the Jesus everyone is looking for!

In this very hour of apostasy, the masses are crying out where is Jesus?! Many wander around from church to church trying to find Him. Others have given up their quest to find this wonderful Jesus they read about in their bible. Instead they spend their time watching an image on TV from a distance that will not disappoint them. Some of them don't realize that the reason Jesus has been hard to find is because He can no longer be seen in their own lives. They have allowed the sin of others to cause their own fire to grow cold. The good news is that your heart can receive a fresh new baptism of His holy fire causing you to return to the passionate, fervent love that you had when you first met Him!

For those of you who are discouraged, I want to encourage you to find Jesus in places you never thought of looking. Jesus is behind the prison walls declaring God's freedom to the captive. He is sitting on the street with a homeless sign and laying in the hospital waiting for your prayers. He waits eagerly in the morning for your eyes to open so He can speak to you. He looks back at you when you look in the mirror. He waits for you to be His hands, His feet and His voice to this world. 

Where are the Mother Theresa's of this hour? Who dragged the sick and dying sinners out of the mud of Calcutta. Where are the William Booth's who called sinners to sing a new song unto the Lord? Where are the William Seymour's who make themselves of no reputation and who hide their faces from men so that they can be seen of God? Where are the Moses' who forsook the treasures of Egypt, refusing to take the name of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to be counted among his suffering brethren? Where are the disciples who do not find themselves worthy to suffer on the cross as their savior did? Where are those who like Jesus, do not love their lives unto death that they might have a better resurrection? Where is Jesus?! He is waiting to be made manifest through you!

His Ministries Website
Facebook: School Of Impartation and Living
YouTube

The Corporate Church

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
(Matthew 20:20-28)

As you can see in every ministry there is the temptation to be seen and compete for position. It happened in Jesus' ministry and it has been happening ever since. Unfortunately, the corporate mentality has crept into church. We have made the Pastor the CEO and we have served the corporate church completely out of selfish motivated reasons! The whole reason the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus was to take the top positions in what they thought was Jesus' company. They wanted to be the right hand guys, part of Jesus' entourage, His yes men and did not care what it took to climb that corporate ladder.

Jesus compared their mindset with the rulers of the Gentiles "who Lord their authority over the people." In other words, he pointed out that the whole reason to want to be in a higher position was for the sole reason of exercising control over people. When you take a higher position in the corporate church you can wear a title. You can now be the head intercessor or the head of the music department. My husband Joshua has always said, "It is time for a title wave! When we all wave our titles goodbye." Unfortunately, along with title there is rank and special privileges. You now hold a place in the church that gives you some sense of control. Careful! This is also the fast track to becoming a target for pride.

Seeing their selfish motivated hearts Jesus warned them that they would drink of His cup and be baptized with the same baptism He was. What is that cup and what is this baptism that Jesus speaks of? Jesus speaks of this cup in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

It is the cup of laying our will down and our life for God's kingdom. In God's kingdom the only way up is down. It is a place of servant-hood. Jesus not only taught this but lived it as an example before all of us. Paul later passes on this mindset by saying, "Let this mind be in you..."who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 5-8).

Think about this, God himself came to serve us. Now we want to be treated like gods so that we can be served. There is a huge gap in what Jesus demonstrated through His life and the kind of attitudes we now see in the church. Jesus warned his disciples that they too would be baptized with the same baptism he was baptized with. Since they had been baptized in water already by John what other baptism could there be? Our thoughts may immediately go to the baptism of the Spirit but Jesus wasn't talking about that baptism. He speaks of the one that John talked about "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Matthew 3:11). There it is. The baptism of fire. What is this baptism of fire? John explains it this way, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:12).

Since many of us did not grow up in an agricultural society I will briefly explain this process. After harvesting the fields, they took the wheat to the threshing floor and the oxen would trod all over the wheat to loose the husks or chaff so that they would later take a winnowing fork and throw the wheat up in the air so the lighter chaff would blow away in the wind. Only what holds weight will keep from blowing away in our lives. Paul said, "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...(Ephesians 4:13-15).

For more on this process go to this link
http://www.biblewise.com/preview/images/teaching/2008/sep/harvesting_grain.pdf

Nervously you might be thinking so how does the fire come into the process? Let me first clarify what the fire isn't. The baptism of fire is not "the feeling like your body is going to burn up" in some kind of supernatural manifestation. People may shout fire and you may feel like you are on fire but that's not what this scripture is about. It is best described in this Messianic prophecy.
“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1-3)

The whole purpose of fire is so we may become purified, purged, and become an offering of righteousness unto God. Instead of fighting for position and control God wants us to become servants. He wants that whole corporate mentality to cease to exist in His church. If you continue to read in Matthew 20 two blind men are sitting on the side of the road shouting to get Jesus attention. Jesus asked them, "What shall I do for you?" They immediately asked them for their sight. Jesus granted them their sight. When the disciples came to Jesus he also answered them by saying, "What do you wish?" They did not get the same response from Jesus. What they were asking for was purely motivated by a selfish attitude. James tell us that all fighting and strife is motivated out of these attitudes.

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
(James 4:1-3).

Yes, I believe God is going to bring fire back to his church but it will be so He can burn up all of our selfish attitudes like chaff because in reality love and selfishness cannot co-exist. Like Revivalist Johannes Schonken pointed out, "The end result of revival is that people may say...they have been with Jesus." Let it be our goal in this season to have people recognize "that we have been with Jesus" and allow the process of fire purify us like gold.

Notes from Revival Meeting on October 25, 2013
by Dale Kizziar and Jaziz Hallas
Expounding on Prophets, Pitfalls and Principals by Dr. Bill Hamon Chapters 8-12

We Must Decrease That He May Increase

Thus says the Lord:
 Jeremiah 6:16
Love is so attractive and in essence that is who He is. If we are to have revival we must become love. We must decrease so He can increase. So my friends there lies the root of the problem. We have increased ourselves so much in the sight of others that they don't see Him anymore! The only solution is to take up the cross and deny ourselves. We must put away selfish ambition and empty conceit; esteeming others higher than ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 We must humbly concede all of our plans to God so that He can take over our services and ministries. Then we must become like that humble man (William Seymour) at Azusa Street who buried his face between wooden crates and prayed for God's presence to visit His people.
Love is so attractive and in essence that is who He is. If we are to have revival we must become love. We must decrease so He can increase. So my friends there lies the root of the problem. We have increased ourselves so much in the sight of others that they don't see Him anymore! The only solution is to take up the cross and deny ourselves. We must put away selfish ambition and empty conceit; esteeming others higher than ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 We must humbly concede all of our plans to God so that He can take over our services and ministries. Then we must become like that humble man (William Seymour) at Azusa Street who buried his face between wooden crates and prayed for God's presence to visit His people.

“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.

What people are really looking for is the presence of God. Not another song, another motivational speech, conference or guest speaker. They just want Jesus but we get in His way because we want to be seen. This world just wants to see Jesus but they see human flesh and are turned off by it.

Our mantra should be the cry of the Welsh Revival "bend us." Their plan of action:

1. Confess all known sin

2. Deal with and get rid of anything ‘doubtful’ in your life

3. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly

4. Confess Christ publicly

If we as a church were to truly just put into practice the 1st principle and humbly confess our sin; that alone would cause a great move of God! Before we can ever experience the times of refreshing we must come with penitent hearts. However, if we go around and act as if we are in need of nothing, we will not experience the very thing we need the most. The current mantra is: we have no sin, we need no conviction and we need no law! We are fine the way we are. The lukewarm church in Revelation also held the same view they did "not know that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." Yet the counsel of God remains the same, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." (Revelations 3:18) It is only through the baptism of fire that may obtain the precious gold crown that Jesus wants to bestow on us.

My friends we can not wear a crown if we won't carry the cross. We have become ashamed of the gospel and rarely preach being crucified with Christ. We have replaced these biblical principles with modern doctrines that have steered us away from taking personal responsibility for the awful shape we are in. Yet, the bible warned us long ago... For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
(1 Thess. 5:3-4) 

Could it be that the pregnant church has not given birth to revival because of the lack of repentance? Jesus warned us “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many." Matthew 24:4-5 It is those who come in His name that we need to be worried about in these Last Days. Jesus tells us how we will know they are false prophets, "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Matthew 24: 11-12 These are the mark of false prophets. They are lawless and Jesus will say to them in that day, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" These ministers thought they could work mighty signs and wonders yet be living outside of God's laws and principles. There will be no such thing! Our sin will never enter into the Holy of Holies; nor will we, be able to flaunt our works before a holy God.  

My friends, is there anything doubtful in our lives? Any sin? Let us confess to God what is causing us to stumble. Forgiving others who have hurt us. Laying down our pride. Picking up our cross and denying ourselves. Esteeming others higher than ourselves. Loving others unconditionally. It is what Jesus did. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8 

Oh Father, make us humble bondservants. Give us the mind of Christ. Give us that love. Help us decrease. Increase in our lives. Father let us never be ashamed of preaching the cross that you so humbly died on. Bring revival to our nation and to our lives in Jesus name.

Excerpts from my book Be Attitudes of Revival

You can now friend us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/SchoolOfImpartationAndLiving

Or you can check out our website at: Joshua Hallas.com