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THE REVIVAL CODE
(c) Morris E. Ruddick
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal 6:2
I have heard many, who experienced the days of the Charismatic Revival,
to describe it with the words: "It was like there was something in the air."
Indeed there was. God was moving. There prevailed an awareness and
expectation with God that simply incited a priority to being a part of it.
I heard an author named Doug Wead ("Tonight They'll Kill a Catholic,"
Creation House, 1974) share about the research he did in war-torn
Northern Ireland, during a time in which Protestants and Catholics
were meeting together for prayer. His research was to verify the
incredible stories of miracles that were coming from these gatherings.
His observation was that in seven out of ten of the stories, there
indeed had been amazing things that had happened, but the stories
had been exaggerated. However, he noted that in three out of ten of
the cases, that they could only be described with the word: "WOW!!"
That was a generation ago. Since that time, the Body of Christ
has experienced much growth, both in numbers and maturity. Yet
when the word revival is raised, those we are close to, to a person,
can be quoted as expressing a longing for more, much more of
this dimension of God being at the forefront of everyday life.
Under the pressures of the Cultural Revolution, the church in China
equally had amazing growth and stories of miracles. Church growth
in places like Indonesia and Korea can be explained by nothing
short of revival fires being released. Similarly, the church in Vietnam
has emerged as a vibrant, praying church that has truly touched the
hem of His garment.
The Issues
Yet, in defining sovereign moves of the Spirit, the question must be
asked: What is it that distinguishes true revival from the contagion
of a well-orchestrated program. From models of revival, what are
the codes and strategies that ignite and sustain it? Likewise, is
revival something that has manifested just since the Acts 2
outpouring of the Holy Spirit or is there precedent historically within
the Jewish roots to the faith?
One of my favorite remembrances from the early 1970s, days of
vibrant revival fires, was what we referred to as body ministry. It was
one of the distinguishing characteristics of those days. Praying for
one another was more spontaneous. We took time to gather; to
bear one another's burdens.
I recall vividly small group gatherings that nurtured short words of
wisdom, exhortations, testimonies of answered prayer, simple
scriptures participants may have had on their hearts; all of which
came together prophetically under the Spirit's guidance to form
a theme that highlighted and encouraged those people gathering.
These interactive dynamics would be followed by spontaneous
prayer as members of the group revealed needs tied to the words
given. Spontaneity, Word-based, Spirit led were the key factors
that marked these gatherings. It was the gatherings like this that
became the spark that ignited revival in a broad, cross-section
of the church.
Similarly, Acts 2 notes that the believers in the early church met
daily and broke bread together in their homes; in addition to
meeting in the temple. The Amplified version notes those
gatherings included the Lord's supper and prayers (v. 42). Paul
gave instruction for such gatherings (1 Cor 14:26) with the
admonition that when they came together that opportunity should
be given for ministering to one another; building one another up.
He made it clear that this vital function should be done under
the guidance of leadership, decently and in order.
The Old Covenant is rich with historical references to what
happened when God's people came together, as one. This
was the purpose of the feast days which served purposes such
as community-wide repentance (Yom Kippur), to celebrating
God's deliverance of His people (Passover; the exact time
paralleling Jesus' resurrection), to giving honor to Pentecost
(the giving of God's Torah/Truth; which also was when the
Acts 2 outpouring of the Spirit happened).
"Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down
from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the
sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD
because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house."
2 Chron 7:1-3
Some of these community-wide gatherings involve fasting,
but each result in rejoicing, prayer and celebrating the Lord,
which includes spiritually festive times of eating together.
"So you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival;
your hearts will rejoice as when people go to the mountain
of the Lord. The Lord will cause men to hear his majestic
voice and will make them see his anger and consuming fire,
with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail. The voice of the Lord
will shatter His enemies; with his scepter he will strike
them down." Isa 30:29-31
The Dynamics
When revival is in evidence its prime dynamics will include
the broad community-response of believers; the priority
given to God and His presence; and of hearing from Him;
all of which engenders radical obedience to God's
standard and heart.
Community-Response
Revival fires that are unleashed at the community-level,
will have an impact that affects the broader community:
a broad cross-section of churched and unchurched alike. It
brings an insatiable hunger for God as people reach out for the
reality of God operating in their midst.
It operates beyond denominational and doctrinal boundaries,
while adhering to central biblical common ground shared
by all. As our pastor from the early 70s told us: "In our faith
are some things, for which, we should be willing to die.
Those are the areas the Body needs to agree on."
Revival flows in those areas.
God's Presence and Priority
Times of revival are marked by the consciousness of
God's presence and powerful answers to prayer. With
a keen focus on prayer, worship and seeking God, there
is a reverence and centrality to giving the priority necessary
to take that "next step" with God.
It provokes a trust and spontaneity of gathering with those
of a kindred spirit to seek Him, in waiting on Him with
prayer gatherings that tap and unveil the specifics of
His priorities and will.
Hearing God
Revival pivots on the consciousness of
His presence which results in hearing from God. It
involves a humility and trust that is willing to be personally
vulnerable in order stay in the prophetic flow of the Spirit.
Operating in the flow of His Spirit and His will, results
in the tendency toward remarkable answers to prayer.
Hearing God is always in conformance with the standard
of His Truth. Those truly tapping God's guidance are like the
Bereans in Acts 17, daily searching the Scripture to verify
and grasp all that the Spirit is imparting.
Radical Obedience
Hearing God and obeying is not in any
way passive. It realigns and it changes things. It changes
things on both an individual and a community-level. It becomes
the basis of what is referred to as societal transformation.
It can be said that spiritual maturity kicks in when the prime
focus shifts from issues of self to engaging one's calling in
serving community and Kingdom issues. Radical obedience
accelerates this process. It generates a more global,
proactive perspective that is interactive among those
sharing in this flow of the Spirit.
Most Distinguishing Characteristic
True revival is marked by the atmosphere of God's presence.
It is an atmosphere of His presence that doesn't fade when
the gathering is over. It abides. It represents a spark, an
igniter of the Spirit which those embracing it carry with them.
What we perceive when "God is moving" is first our
heightened God-consciousness, together with a God-response
to our spiritual hunger and purity of our reach for Him.
When the atmosphere of God's presence prevails, the
dynamic fuels an explosive multiplication. This is the
increase that results as the combination of the anointings
and the diversity of the gifts of those in community,
responding to revival begin operating together in unity.
Those who have experienced revival, the atmosphere of
His presence, yearn for the unfathomable consciousness
of His presence. It is insatiable. It has a depth that knows
no bounds. It sparks at the dividing asunder between soul
and spirit. It is contagious for those who truly seek Truth.
His presence indeed changes everything.
Revival's Catalysts
There are subtle, but distinct differences between the
catalysts that ignite revival; and the nurturing or maintaining
of revival; and of spiritual maturing.
Sound doctrine helps us mature spiritually as we
progressively grasp the glimmers of His Truth. Yet Jesus
referred to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, Who
leads us into all Truth. Holy Spirit revival fires guide us
into Truth. Revival is that process of release that provokes
the manifestation of the reality of God.
There are some who are carriers of revival. This is a key
function of how the anointing operates
Carriers of revival are catalysts, igniters of God's presence.
When one spends time in God's presence, they begin to
operate as a carrier of His presence. We make reference
to "flowing" in His Spirit. The anointing is given release,
from the priority given to time spent with God.
When it matures with a pure heart, the overflow of the
anointing operates in concert with the leadership anointing,
each within their own sphere (2 Cor 10:13). It is the
foundation for influence. It has become the basis of many
successful ministries. It similarly represents the authority
of the intercessor to be a shield for those for whom they
stand in the gap.
Moses was a carrier for God's presence. He was a
gatekeeper for God's glory among the people. It was a
dynamic that began with the time Moses spent in God's
presence together with the fervency he had in reaching
for the conscious abiding of God's presence.
"'I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me
know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find
favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your
people.' The Lord said, 'My presence shall go with you,
and I will give you rest.' Moses then said to Him, 'If
Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us
up from here. For how can it be known that I have
found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not
by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people,
may be distinguished from all the other people of the
earth?' Then Moses said, 'I pray You show me your glory.'"
Ex 33:13-19
Many years ago, during a time of ministry, a man of
God prefaced his ministry to us with these words:
"I sit in the presence of the Lord. There are many things
I could say to you; but what I bring you, I bring from the
presence of the Lord." That orientation is one of my
chief prayers for what I scribe with my writings and
what I impart with my God's economy program.
I have no desire to operate outside that context. I
yearn for and seek the anointing that breaks the
yoke. In this quest, for over two decades, I have
embraced a lifestyle of arising in the middle of the
night to pray and seek God. It is a part of the cost.
The Kingdom of God is the culture through which
God's people operate. Revival and the restoration
of God's order are at the heart of the Kingdom. God
is a consuming fire. His presence is a catalyst, a fire
that ignites change in its wake. When manifesting,
this conscious, flowing presence of the Lord, through
His people, yields the authority to reset governments
and economies and the cultures of the peoples
of the world.
At the core of this abiding presence operating through
His people, is what Paul referred to as the law of Christ:
bearing one another's burdens. Scripture tells us that
Jesus took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.
He was bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we
were healed. It is the standard for those willing to endure
the cost. It is the banner for those who have been
prepared for this season.
It is a mantle of fire traversing a pathway of fire, with a
responsibility and authority that wields God's glory to
restore His order. It is a mantle that carries a cost for
those paying the cost in paving its pathway.
"The wilderness and wasteland shall be glad. The desert
shall rejoice and bloom. You shall see the glory of the
Lord, the excellency of our God. So strengthen the weak
hands, make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who
are feeble-hearted: 'Be strong, do not fear.' Then the
eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the
death unstopped.
The lame shall leap like a dear and
the tongue of the dumb sing. Waters shall burst forth
in the wilderness and springs in the desert. The parched
ground shall become a pool and a highway shall be
there and a road. It shall be called the highway of
holiness. The unclean will not pass over it, for it shall
be for the redeemed; and whoever walks this road
will not go astray." Isaiah 35:1-8
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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman
for the call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s.
As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer
of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program,
Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic
community builders where God's light is dim in both
the Western and non-Western world.
He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;"
"Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;"
"The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" and
"Righteous Power in a Corrupt World," which
address the mobilization of business and
governmental leaders called to impact their
communities with God's blessings. They are
available in print and e-versions from
www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNoble.com
and other popular outlets.
Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org)
is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are
enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends
and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart
to mobilize the persecuted church to be the head and
not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to
Global Initiatives and mailed to
PO Box 370291,
Denver CO 80237
or email us atsign@strategicintercession.org
for access information on our secure web-site.
Likewise, email us to schedule a briefing for your
congregation on the state of the persecuted church
and how you can more effectively pray for them.
2014 Copyright Morris Ruddick
sign@strategicintercession.org
Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given
by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession
Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic
intercessors and leaders committed to targeting
strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a
global basis. For previous posts or more information on
SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org
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