What Is This Revival Going to Look Like?

Before I moved to Canada, I was looking for the Third Great Awakening to start at any time in the US. I didn't know what it was going to look like, but I felt that something really big was going to happen. After being in Canada awhile, I started doing a bit of research on revivals and what they looked like. Canada has never had a nationwide revival, although there have been several pockets of a real Move of God. In my research, I found a few prophecies that stated Canada was headed for a great awakening, or Move of God, and that through this (or at the same time), the US and other nations would have a revival.

The following is a list of characteristics of what I believe will happen in this Move of God.

1. This revival will be different from anything that has happened in the past. Do not look for God to do what He did in the US during the Great Awakening or the Second Great Awakening. If you do, you will miss what God has for you. (confirmed by Charlie Robison on 03/22/2011 in Kelowna).

2. The revival will be led by lay people, not pastors, preachers or evangelists. The lay people will be those that are in tune with the Holy Spirit and have a heart for God. Those gifts that were intended for use outside "the church", will be used in a dramatic way. People will be healed, and eyes will be opened with words of wisdom and knowledge from "normal" people. People will suddenly feel the Spirit of God move within them, and they will speak as if God Himself were speaking. The lay people will "naturally" do what is right, being led by the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that pastors, etc. won't have a role, but the main thrust will be through lay people.

3. There will be a God ordained "civil war" within the church. In the same way that Paul had to rebuke Peter for compromising the Gospel through his actions with the Judaizers, there will be a desire to get back to the pure truth of the Gospel: that is, that there is no way to the Father except by a confession of faith in the Lord Jesus. We are not talking about doctrinal differences. Those that get into a fight over doctrinal differences will be left behind in this revival (or may find themselves in a fight with God). Instead, we are talking about any "gospel" that is preached distorts who God (the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit) is and teaches any other way to the Father than through Jesus. (this has already started)

4. Related to the items above, the Lord will use the people who have been rejected by "the church" in the past. These include those that have sinned greatly, but have been miraculously transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Apostle Paul was transformed from a murderer to a warrior for God, so shall these days be. As people are being saved, God will transform them into soldiers for God. God is going to use ex-drug dealers and addicts, ex-gang members, ex-prostitutes, etc.... those people who "many sins have been forgiven," will love much (Luke 7:47).

5. Because some in the current church do not understand what is happening, because some will take offense at the outcasts that are coming to salvation, and because there is a split over the True Gospel, many will leave the church, but many more will be moved into the Body of Christ. Those that take offense and don't repent will start mocking, and then move to persecuting the Body of Christ. This may very well include those the are true children of God, but don't accept what is happening in the church.

6. The Body of Christ will become "spotless and without blemish," i.e., she will move into the Righteousness and Holiness that God intended.

7. Any Move of God also includes a great Move within the youth - the very young through the college age. This will be from the very beginning (and may have already started). This will, of course, include the outcasts, but also include the youth from our mainline churches who just "catch fire." The youth will move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a mighty way, so much so that it will astound the older generations.

8. This Move of God will cross all denominational boundaries. This is not about who is right doctrinally, but who God is! Those that deny the Move of God as legitimate because it didn't come from their church or denomination will be left unchanged. Those that claim that the Move of God started with their denomination or church, or lead by their denomination or church, will be left unchanged through this Move because of their hard hearts - they may even open themselves up to the judgment of God. There will be attempts for some to lead this movement, but if they have personal motives, they will crash as an example to others. This movement will truly be lead by the Holy Spirit. He will raise up "leaders" that do not want to be recognized but want the Kingdom to be advanced. Individuals in the Body will just "do" what they are supposed to do.

9. There will be a 24/7 prayer movement in major regions or cities across denominational and church boundaries. (this has already started)

10. There will be a restoration of David's Tabernacle, that is, there will be a movement for 24/7 praise and worship in major cities and regions across denominational and church boundaries.

11. There will be a Move of God to promote justice across all boundaries (socio-economic, racial, etc.). Please note that there is a false "social justice" movement in place at this time that will not get (and will not even try to get) justice. You will recognize the difference in the two by their results.

12. There will be a move by the Body of Christ to secure a place in society for the "fatherless." This includes the UNBORN. Today's trend of abortion on demand will be reversed by the Spirit of God. The Body will make every attempt to empty the orphanages and adopt the fatherless.

13. The Body of Christ will become the New Testament church once more. As the church walks in Holiness and Righteousness, the miracles of Acts will be seen once more. It will be both glorious and terrifying.

14. As the Body of Christ sees what Jesus means to her, individuals will live sacrificially with their finances and their time. Material possessions will become meaningless to the "alive" church. Seeing people added to the Body of Christ will be the church's main focus.

15. The revival will cover all (or most all) nations. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc. (that is, people from all religions) will have their eyes opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be converted.

16. The Body of Christ will learn to truly "walk in the Spirit" and walk in the authority that God has given her.

17. There will be great conflicts and disasters during this time - but for those of us who are focused on Jesus Christ, it will not matter. These troubling events will only strengthen our resolve to do what God has called us to do.

18. This last revival will remain in place until the Lord's return.

Compiled by Don Deskins, Kelowna, BC, Canada

REVIVAL AND REVOLUTION

REVIVAL AND REVOLUTION

REVIVAL; THE BEGINNING OF REVOLUTION
How do you know the difference between a person who has experienced true revival and one who has not? The one who has experienced revival no longer needs reviving. I had a dream the other day in which there was a baby not breathing. It was the church, and it needed resuscitating (reviving) or it would die. But, when the baby is revived; it's greatest need is not continual reviving or resuscitation. Continued chest compressions only serve to suppress the NORMAL functioning of a heart that is beating.

Revival is an EMERGENCY measure to bring something back to life or save its life. When my youngest daughter was born she needed quick attention to revive her and get oxygen flowing to the lifeless limbs that were starving from lack of oxygen. Once she was out of danger and was breathing well on her own, she was given into the arms of her father and mother to nurture her and raise her.
So what is the need for a baby who has been birthed, revived, and is now breathing and alive? You raise it up to be released into the world to fulfill it's destiny. If you are revived, you are now an alive NORMAL Christian. If you are constantly needing revival, you have a serious underlying condition that needs to be corrected in order for you to live a productive life. If you are on life support, which is where some people are, you are not breathing for yourself and it may be time to pull the plug. Revival refers to the initial work of the Spirit to bring back to life that which is dying.

Revival IS needed, and I love revival. But, we need to lift their vision higher. Revival meetings are good, but not the end goal. The formation of Christ in His people is the end goal. That goal is to quicken to life that which is dead or dying in order that after it has done it's work, people will become NORMAL power filled children of God; finding their destinies in Christ. If we need revival we are dying. Revival is the doorway into a kingdom lifestyle and expression of the Christ life; walking in love, obedience, power, and faith. We should be experiencing renewing, refreshing, and refilling daily ON OUR OWN; and bringing the part we have to share in the gathering of saints.

If you are revived you WILL revive others and it is no longer about a meeting, but about BEING the life of Christ to others. It is time for many to move on to NORMAL kingdom lifestyle. The early church was a Presence and power filled body. We are entering the days of the "maturing" of the seed (Christ) that was planted in the ground that it may not abide alone. Once people are revived we must release them into NORMAL kingdom living. The formation of Christ in His people is the end goal.

There are certain things which tend to bring people back into a state of needing reviving. One major one is a leadership mindset and structure that does not understand the goal, has the wrong goal, or does not know how to accomplish the goal. This is where true apostolic ministry needs to come in to release people into their place.

APOSTOLIC REVOLUTION
After an evangelist brought revival to Samaria an apostle came in and established the people. Following revival must be the equipping and releasing stage that causes life to flow through the members of the body. I do not refer to most current understandings of apostolic ministry. The maturing of the saints has become stunted and sidetracked under the current apostolic model. The apostolic ministry I am talking about is still emerging as ministries that will truly raise up the body in maturity to be what they are called to be. These will give people a vision of their identity in Christ and release them to be what they have been given to be by Father.

Here is what the new apostles look like:
They do not have networks of followers; they have love relationship based connections.
They are not OVER groups or demand a fee or tithe in order for people to be related to them.
They are not just teaching and preaching, they become the example of their message. Their greatest work and joy is just watching, waiting, and enabling people to do the work.
The only covenant they have with others is the ONE covenant of blood.
They submit to you as you submit to them, and receive the gifts of others and correction of those considered less then themselves on an EYE TO EYE basis.
They are true Fathers with REAL relationship with people (much "apostolic fathering" today is based on position and NOT relationship). Their goal is to release people into their destinies.

Let me give an example of what is coming to the church:
An emerging apostolic friend of mine was building a relationship with a Goth church. At a meeting the Lord spoke to him ten specific verses. He wrote them down in order, assuming he was supposed to preach. He waited after the worship for the mind of the Lord. As he waited nine of the young people stood up and gave the verses he wrote down in exact order, sharing what the Lord was saying to them through the verses. He waited for number ten but Father told him, "You finish with the last." It was training for him from the Lord. His wife watched the whole thing transpire. There are many who are going to be released to this very thing. Get ready, the kingdom is come. THIS is the kind of apostolic ministry coming forth.

SIGNS AND WONDERS
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of the hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.
I had a powerful dream years ago of sitting on a stage in a chair in front of a church full of people while God simply sovereignly moved. But it was the people who were ministering the anointing to one another in the meeting while I did nothing but sit in rest and watch. I have already experienced this in part, but am pressing for an all out breaking loose in the church.

Your children are for signs and wonders. My own children (age 12 and under) are examples of this as they have ministered accurately prophetically to people with visions and words of knowledge in our small gathering at home. I will look to them to bring forth prophetic insight needed in a situation. As they share what they see, I get wisdom to the application of the prophetic word coming forth, but even then, God can still have another person share the application I may receive.

The apostolic anointing is fully functioning as apostles have the ability to know the mind of the spirit for a gathering. This does not mean they are to do the work. There is an "Atmospheric" nature of apostolic ministry that has yet to fully come forth that quickens and releases the kingdom within and through in people in a gathering. This type of maturing ministry is coming forth with greater signs and wonders then revival meetings with a special speaker. Father has determined it is so.

That dream of WATCHING God move through others while at rest is coming true. The body must be equipped to do the work of the ministry. When people do not find their place of authority In HIM, sooner or later their fire dies out. Peoples purpose and function in the body of Christ releases a flow of Spirit life in them and others. When they are not exercising in their place, they dry up. That is when and why revival is needed. So get ready for revival, and then a revolution that will turn the church and the world upside down.

In His Love
Kriston Couchey
http://my.opera.com/Boanerges/blog/