Recently in Revival Category

Awaken: A 21-day Prayer Journal has been used in churches across Louisiana by individuals and churches praying for revival and spiritual awakening in their churches, communities, and across the state. Now they are preparing for a "wave of prayer" across the state as groups plan to gather in March and April at courthouses in every parish (county) to pray for awakening.

Is this a model for your community or state to pray for spiritual awakening?

To read or download the prayer guide devotionals and/or view daily video clips (in Spanish also) go to: http://www.lbc.org/Awaken/21Days/

Send us a revival and spiritual awakening, Lord Jesus, for Your honor and glory!

Our great need in North America is for a spiritual awakening that transforms lives, families, cities, and ultimately our society and culture by the working of God's Holy Spirit. Awaken 2012 is a 21-day prayer guide to direct the prayers of God's people toward revival and awakening. First written for Louisiana churches, it is available for all who wish to join in prayer and fasting for revival and awakening. In this video I challenge churches to undertake the following:

• December 31, 2011 Celebrate a Watch-night Service (or Cry at Midnight)
• January 1-21, 2012 Follow the guided prayer of "Awaken 2012"
• January 22, 2012 Call a Solemn Assembly for the following Sunday and begin an 8-day process of preparation using "Consecrate the People."
  
• January 29, 2012 Celebrate a Solemn Assembly and Renew Your Covenant Commitments to Jesus Christ.

Awaken 2012 Print Files:

Download one of the following files for a 40-page version. One is single pages and the other can print double sided pages and be stapled into a booklet format.

Last December (2010) I had the privilege of interviewing David Franklin about God's activity in Bartow County, Georgia, that is transforming lives, churches, and the community. God is working in such encouraging ways that I've become a "prisoner of hope" (See Zechariah 9:12.). I pray that God will find pastors and churches all over the nation who will surrender to His use and purposes to see a similar work in their communities.

To watch other videos about God's work in the county see my Vimeo Album at:

http://www.vimeo.com/23652961

I came across a statement in an Andrew Murray book that pointed me to the homage ceremony. It has become for me a powerful reminder every time I pray of my need to fully surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The homage ceremony of the Middle Ages gives us some powerful imagery of full surrender. Christians translated that into a posture for prayer that included full surrender to King Jesus as Lord and Master. Added to the definition of "consecration" as "to fill up the open hands," we have a wonderful invitation from our Lord to consecrate our lives to Him, or as Paul put it "present your bodies as a living sacrifice." Will you join me in full surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ?

In a church running 70-80 one year prior, God visited Fellowship Baptist Church of Cartersville, Georgia (Bartow County) with a special sense of His presence. Since that Experiencing God Launch Weekend they've seen about 110 baptisms. Pastor Jeff Duvall explains: "That was where God began to reveal that He was tired of us playing church or just going through the motions, but He had something real for us." The key to what God is doing? "We've stayed on our face before God seeking Him." Jeff challenges his folks to "Brag on Jesus.... The presence of God is in the house!"

God has used the message of Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God to deeply impact individuals, families, and churches. An Experiencing God Weekend is one way churches introduce the message and invite members to experience God as they walk through the Bible study together.

When it seems the whole culture has turned against the Lord and His ways, we need a leadership strategy that can turn that tide. Elijah's strategy (1 Kings 16-18) included (1) recognizing that only God can turn hearts back to Him, (2) waiting before God in prayer for directions about what to do and when, (3) obeying all the commands of the Lord, (4) giving God the credit when He turns the hearts of His people back again.

Over the course of the following days, I'll be blogging 8 videos related to the topic of understanding and leading a solemn assembly. If you don't want to wait for the blogs, you can view them in a video album at: http://vimeo.com/album/1495849

Based on the example and encouragement of Scripture, multiple leadership provides a sound model for solemn assemblies today. Most of the biblical revivals were attended by multiple leaders: normally two or more of the prophet, priest, and king. The example of God's decision to spare a generation from His judgments because of King Josiah's repentance that took place prior to the response of the people is a great encouragement that leaders can lead the way toward revival. But only God can turn the hearts of His people back to Him. Be encouraged that He can. Pray that He will.

Over the course of the following days, I'll be blogging 8 videos related to the topic of understanding and leading a solemn assembly. If you don't want to wait for the blogs, you can view them in a video album at: http://vimeo.com/album/1495849

Just as remembering the spiritual markers of God's activity with and blessing on His people is important, identifying departure markers can be a valuable aide in returning to the Lord. A departure marker is a time when a church or group departed from God's will or violated a command and now suffer the consequences of His divine discipline. This can help a church confess and repent of the sin and return to the Lord for restored fellowship.

Over the course of the following days, I'll be blogging 8 videos related to the topic of understanding and leading a solemn assembly. If you don't want to wait for the blogs, you can view them in a video album at: http://vimeo.com/album/1495849

A very prominent feature of most biblical solemn assemblies was the practice of remembering the special things God had done in behalf of His people. When our heart departs (Deuteronomy 30:17) from our first love for God, remembering God's kindnesses can lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4) just as powerfully as godly sorrow over our sin (2 Corinthians 7:10). Jesus commanded the church at Ephesus to remember the height from which they had fallen and repent and return to their first love for Him. Let's remember all His goodness toward us as we return to Him.

Over the course of the following days, I'll be blogging 8 videos related to the topic of understanding and leading a solemn assembly. If you don't want to wait for the blogs, you can view them in a video album at: http://vimeo.com/album/1495849

Though the term "solemn assembly" is not used in the New Testament, we see numerous occasions where solemn assemblies were practiced. Most significant of those were the Last Supper that took place at Passover, the Day of Pentecost as the first fruits of the church were gathered, and the deliverance of Peter from prison following the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Over the course of the following days, I'll be blogging 8 videos related to the topic of understanding and leading a solemn assembly. If you don't want to wait for the blogs, you can view them in a video album at: http://vimeo.com/album/1495849