Incredibly, fall is here. Although it’s been a warm and wonderful summer season, color changes bring fresh briskness and a splash of newness to surroundings. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we have the privilege of experiencing each season with the various strengths and weaknesses that accompany the particular time periods of the calendar.
As we walk with Jesus personally, as we yield to the Holy Spirit and His moving in our lives, we, too, experience fresh breezes blowing, fresh winds of change, fresh life, fresh vibrancy. Something is happening—something new, something different.
Although the world’s news is seldom good, and we are marking the second anniversary of travesty fostered upon American’s and their lives, there is a fresh song in the Spirit being sung; there is a fresh breath of God being sensed. We are on the verge of something precious, something alive, something personal, perhaps even something national and international.
We have long prayed for revival. Indeed, pockets of revival have hit various locales with sustained movements of God for a certain duration of time. Many of us have longed to see the days we’ve heard about: the three major outpourings of the Spirit of God in the 20th century:
- 1902-1906, the Azuza Street Revival in Los Angeles, CA. People traveled from all around the world to witness great revival with Charles Parham and others. Salvations, deliverances, Baptisms, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance—many miracles occurred, and the Body of Christ on the earth was forever changed. Major “Pentecostal” denominations sprung into being at this time.
- 1948—The “Latter Rain Movement.” This has NOTHING to do with the Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism) but EVERYTHING to do with a major worldwide revival. Bible School students at Rose of Sharon Bible School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, sincerely sought God for a mighty moving of His hand and a fresh Baptism of His Spirit, as they had read in the Book of Acts. God answered! Students fell under the power of God, prayer meetings were alive and passionate, other languages were supernaturally received, and miracles occurred. The key result of this movement was the restoration of great Biblical Truths in the Body of Christ: namely, healings, laying on of hands, prophecy, the office gifts of the Apostle and Prophet, and truths of Praise and Worship based upon the Scripture. Especially evident was the lifting up of holy hands and expressive Davidic worship as revealed in Chronicles and the Psalms.
- 1967—The “Charismatic Movement”. Although many point to an earlier date, this movement’s river reached floodstage in the late 60’s as hippies were mightily saved and ushered into revival. Long hair, jeans with holes, sandals, and the influence of rock music came into the church. Some with staid religion said “no” to the new move of God and such churches were, many times, unable themselves to experience the further mighty power of God. Others, like Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel and John Wimbur of the Vineyard Churches, were used to provide a new paradigm church to a new generation.
One will invariably find, as one studies history, that many of these revivals paralleled events naturally and nationally in Israel. For instance, the miraculous rebirth of the nation of Israel occurred in 1948 at the same time as the Latter Rain Outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And, at the same time as the Charismatic Revival fires were burning, incredible miracles too abundant to enumerate here, took place in the 1967 Six-Day war between Israel and her enemies.
Of course, other moves of God occurred throughout the generations, such as the Welsh revival, and third-wave revival through mainline evangelical and Baptist churches in the latter 80’s and 90’s. Various supernatural occurrences brought great hope to Christians, in such diverse places as Brownsville, Florida and Toronto, Canada.
And now, a hunger is arising in God’s people for a fresh wind to blow again. Is it time for God’s hand? Is it time for the great final revival? Throughout the world there is turmoil; in the Middle East hopes of peace are dashed over and over again. God is moving in international revival; God’s fresh breath is being experienced in many congregations, and true Christians long for so much more! The Bible declares that God will fill this earth “with His glory as the waters cover the sea.”
Let us do our part to cooperate with God, to continue to pray; to not tremble in fear and unbelief as we see nations shake, but to put our faith in God, who is the One who shakes the nations. Let us see, ask, pray, knock, believe, worship, and walk in faith, and let us help usher in the greatest revival the world has ever known. Then truly, fall will be more than a seasonal change; truly, the sounds of praise and worship will abundantly fill our September Song!
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