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Approaching God One Thought At A Time

How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you don't even have the strength to turn off your TV?
- Leonard Ravenhill

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Revival

In light of our current spiritual crises and with Heaven to gain and Hell to loose, few topics are as relevant and important as revival. While the word has come to mean different things to different people, the kind of revival humanity needs is an unparalleled move of God on an unprecedented scale.

Given the 1960's inversion of millennia of morality and the ubiquitous yet ever increasing of entitlement and sin, the First World has long past the line of demarcation in regards to simple spiritual renewal. Heretofore unknown and global pre-revival repentance ushering in a New Pentecost with the immediate impact of a million upper rooms would be more in keeping with such unprecedented global need.


After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

- Acts 4:31 NLT


Public buildings often have fire alarms above which is the phrase, "In case of emergency break glass." Today's global population represents seven billion, most facing some form of need and all with souls at eternal risk.

Given unprecedented levels of corporate or personal sin, not to mention increasing spiritual resistance, the need for revival's never been greater. Even within the church worldliness and worse are at alarming levels to the point that their is less and less discernible difference between professing Christians and our counterparts.

Additionally, many find God silent and withdrawn as if His Spirit is grieved from striving with man. This has lead millions if not billions into a "Catch 22" scenario where we fail to pray and obey because God fails to answer and God fails to answer because we fail to pray and obey.

Unless averted, this dilemma will continue running it's course until judgment falls on individuals and society alike. Even the church is at risk of loosing it's salt and light and as Jesus warned becoming good for nothing, not even the dungheap, but to cast out and trampled underfoot by men.


Pentecost Lightening

It would seem the church, or as many members of it as are willing, need to seek God until receiving a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit for ourselves and families, fellow Christians and neighbors. At this point only New Pentecostal lightening can reinvigorated and energized the body of Christ to confess we've been AWOL and man our posts.

To accomplish this we need the gift of pre-revival repentance. We should examine closely God's gracious offer to hear, forgive and heal His people if we would follow His perfect formula for repentance.

We must heed the Bible's prophetic advice, calling scared assemblies throughout the land. We should admit judgment is coming, both in this life and eternity for all who persist in sin, and confess our lack of love and fear of God. We would do well to follow the examples of prophets like Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Isaiah, seeking God diligently to the point of wrestling a blessing from Him if need be.

Even with great moral and social opposition and reversals, while we may talk and sing a good story, few if any churches and families have responded appropriately. Few are the serious and strategic intercessors not to mention weekly if not daily prayer meetings. Few are those willing to discuss, much less embrace the anguish required to raise families and transform lost children within modern Christianity much less the society at large.

While our need is great, God is greater. Thankfully the Bible is full of encouragement for those willing to accept its reproof and direction. Awesome and awe-ful as He is, let us approach God confidently, knowing scripture assures He takes "no pleasure in the death of the wicked" and "is not willing that any should perish."

Let us join in the Apostle Paul's greatest prayer, that God would grant us:

  • "...according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 2:16-21


Many Called, Few Chosen

Jesus lamented, "For many are called, but few are chosen." Why? Because few chose to answer His call. To fully do so requires more than simple belief. We must foster lifestyles of unflinching resolve, embracing radical discipleship to the point of complete transformation into the entirely new creations of New Testament promise.

Such rare and necessary men and women might be called Prophetic Christians. These do well to ponder the lives and accomplishments of the noteworthy example of Finney and Müller, Roberts and Wigglesworth. While currently lacking the power of such champions of the faith, we can certainly follow in the footsteps of their wisdom. QC particularly recommends emulating their lifestyles marked by radical sanctification and spiritual sensitivity.

Perhaps the simplest and most Scripturally astute advice for developing and maintaining sensitivity to the Spirit of God was developed by Evan Roberts, the leading figure of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival.

  • “The revival lasted less than a year, but in that time 100,000 people were converted. Begun as an effort to kindle non-denominational, non-sectarian spirituality, the Welsh revival of 1904-05 coincided with the rise of the labour movement, socialism, and a general disaffection with religion among the working class and youths. Placed in context, the short-lived revival appears as both a climax for Nonconformism and a flashpoint of change in Welsh religious life. The movement spread to Scotland and England, with estimates that a million people were converted in Britain. Missionaries subsequently carried the movement abroad; it was especially influential on the Pentecostal movement emerging in California."
The primary effects of the Welsh Revival were all the more impressive given the period's lack of modern technology and media. Furthermore, its Pentecostal fire would spark fantastic ministries, including the likes of Smith Wigglesworth. Its influence would eventually be felt globally, as in association with the 1905 Azusa Street Revival, the modern Charismatic movement, numbering nearly 600 million would arise.

Grasping the importance of attracting, rather than grieving the Holy Spirit, Roberts promoted an elegant 4-fold strategy.

  1. Confess any known sin to God and put any wrong done to others right.
  2. Put away any doubtful habit.
  3. Obey the Spirit promptly.
  4. Confess your faith in Christ publicly.

Whoever and wherever we are, it behoves each of us to do our best. Preferably in groups of two or more. The correlation between connectivity and causation are quantum truths. In both the physical and spiritual world. In regards to the unity of diversity, the New Testament likens Christ’s Kingdom to a single body comprised of a myriad of parts functioning as a cohesive whole. Thus we all have vital roles to play. Ones in which we are far stronger together. As Scripture attests:

  • “I’ll make the country a place of peace—you’ll be able to go to sleep at night without fear; I’ll get rid of the wild beasts; I’ll eliminate war. You’ll chase out your enemies and defeat them: Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand and do away with them. I’ll give you my full attention: I’ll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order.” Leviticus 26:8-10 The Message - Emphasis QC's
Scripture’s “great and precious promises” combine with Heaven’s “great cloud of witnesses” to encourage Prophetic Christians of all persuasions to individually and collectively, “Rise Up O Men Of God.” Phil Keaggy provides a moving rendition of the beloved hymn.

Rise up O men of God
 Have done with lesser things
 Give heart and soul and mind and strength
 To serve the King of Kings
 To serve the King of Kings

Rise up O men of God
 His Kingdom tarries long
 Bring in the day of brotherhood
 And end the night of wrong
 And end the night of wrong
Rise up O men of God
 The Church for you doth wait
 Send forth to serve the needs of men
 In Christ our strength is great
 In Christ our strength is great

 Lift high the Cross of Christ
 Tread where His feet have trod
 As brothers of the Son of Man
 Rise up O men of God
 Rise up O men of God

Our response, or lack thereof, to the cause of Christ and humanity, holds equally great and grave potential. In both time and eternity. Through chains of causation, the rise or fall of friends and family, society and entire generations rests in our hands. As exemplified in the old proverb, For Want of a Nail:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
 For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
 For want of a horse the rider was lost.
 For want of a rider the message was lost.
 For want of a message the battle was lost.
 For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
 And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

While partial visible today, only eternity will reveal the full extent of all that has been forever lost for want of honest and vigorous prayer and Bible study, discipleship and evangelism. Wherever and whenever possible, we highly suggest Prophet Christians move beyond mere Christian fellowship and church attendance, into and through the crucible of deeply repentive and strategic corporate prayer. See GB's Prayer of Anguish.

A deep dive into the lives and ministries, writings and legacies of Charles Finney and Smith Wigglesworth reveal a quantum path in seeking and serving God. Particularly in regards to the rigors of radical discipleship and the restoration of power evangelism. Essential components when advocating for personal and corporate revival in the modern world.

Both men were 200% committed to Christ. Each, in their own respective ways, lived and ministered with perhaps the greatest authentic and documented anointing seen in centuries. Neither allowed a hint worldliness or unbelief, doubtful habits or subtle sin, to diminish their Scriptural power and authority. Nor did either, for even a moment, dare grieve the Holy Spirit from Whom their spiritual strength flowed. Even so, while yielding unprecedented results, their effectiveness and expertise focused on nearly opposite facets of Christian faith.

Finney's life and work majored on repentance and service. Godly fear and love for Christ, without compromise, required vigorous and demanding holiness and sanctification. No dualistic or double-minded lifestyles. The reward for which was the glorification of God and expansion of His Kingdom. Finney's cry was for radical Christian experience resulting from extreme sanctification to God. For the sake of God's own infinite goodness. A goodness that closed not only bars and brothels, but dance halls and theaters, far and wide. Often for years after he had come and gone. All this while simultaneously expanding social services and outreach for those in need at levels previously unseen.

Wigglesworth life and work majored on belief and miracles. Absolute faith in the love of Christ, without doubt, also required vigorous and demanding holiness and sanctification. Again, no dualistic or double-minded lifestyles. The reward for which was experiencing and sharing the absolute power and glory of the unequalled goodness of Christ and His Kingdom. Wigglesworth's cry was never to leave a Christian meeting without a life altering encounter, if not collision, with the Spirit's fruit and gifts. Gifts of phenomenal healings and deliverances that enabled and empowered the fullest expression of Christ's inconceivable love and grace. The experience of which created individual and corporate cravings to fully please, and never grieve, the Holy Spirit of promise.

Prophetic Christians do well to meditate on Finney and Wigglesworth in hopes of replicating their unique and unsurpassed anointing. Doing so, mindful of Christ's warning to His first disciples, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." Perhaps God may yet raise up true heirs to their legacy in this late and troubled hour.



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Great Resources

Sentinel Group: George Otis, Jr. “Transformational Videos”


David Wilkerson


John Wesley:


Charles Finney


Jonathan Edwards


Leonard Ravenhill

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