Moving beyond revival

I believe that we’re beginning to see the shifting of the mindset of our religious culture… let me explain.

‘Revival’ has been the best thing since sliced bread for millennia.  People have revisited a previous time in their lives and ‘re-dug’ an old well of spiritual experience.  By definition, ‘RE-vival’ is ‘re-doing’ something from the past.  Fortunately, in the midst of a revival time, God usually gives some new facet or expression beyond the past… such as, shaking, falling, laughing, gold dust… etc.  But still the central essence of most of our past revivals is still a ’re-capturing’ of a spiritual ‘aliveness’ that we once had.

Of course, we all highly appreciate any and all of the milestone God-filled experiences that we’ve had in the past.  No regrets or disparaging, here!  

We love revival
Of course, we still love revival.  Revival is better than not being revived!!!  😊  In fact, I am going to attend a Rodney Howard Browne revival meeting here in KC.  And I’m excited about it!!!  I’ve had several POWERFUL experiences 20-30 years ago in RHB’s meetings … and I’m eager to ‘enter into’ the experiences in that same environment again.  It was precious to me then… and I’m confident it will be this time.

Recently, I attended several John & Carol Arnott (from Toronto Christian Fellowship) meetings here in KC… and LOVED it.  I voluntarily took a ‘courtesy drop’ (no apologies from me) and genuinely laughed my guts out.  It was just like I remembered in the powerful wells of revival 20-30 years ago.  Even though my recent experience was very satisfying, it wasn’t as life-giving to me as I now experience in ascended life.  But it was still life giving… and it reinforced and validated my experiences that I had back in the day.  Thank You, Father!

A couple of things about God

1. His character and nature do not change
     “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” – Heb 13:8
2. But His emphasis definitely changes over time
     “Behold, I am doing a new thing” – Is 43:19

God’s love has constantly overarched and undergirded everything He has done since before time.  But He has unveiled many different emphasis to His people throughout the ages.  Think: 10 Cmdts., Moses Tab., David’s Tab., Solomon’s Temple, OT laws, NT grace, Pentecost, etc….

Don’t take me wrongly, there is definitely merit in revisiting the old… especially IF that is all we have!  We value revival and affirm its value in people’s lives, while knowing that there is something better… and we’re happy to present that ‘better’ to those who have ears to hear.

The value and reward of moving ahead is much more life-giving as compared to reliving the old.  I suppose revival may feel more safe and attractive to some because it has produced life in the past.  And moving into something new may seem scary because it is unknown to our mind and uncommon in religious circles.

Beyond revival
So for now, we’re reaching (and believe) for something that is radically different in essence and expression.  We believe that it’s possible to experience 1) freedom from laws of earth-bound physics and 2) be awakened to spiritual realities found the “Heavenly places” and 3) transfiguration and 4) immortality… to name just a few possibilities.  All of these are a part of our full inheritance as ‘new creation’ (new kainos) sons of God. 

The objectives just mentioned, are radically different from what we’ve typically known as the hallmarks of ‘revival’.  But they are Scripturally solid and well within the inheritance of the sons of God.

So, moving ahead into the NEW is where I’ve set my sights

–MLH