HOW REVIVAL STARTED! - 1904 - Azusa Street

HOW REVIVAL STARTED! - 1904 - Azusa Street
by Frank Bartleman

... We had been praying for a sweeping revival for Pasadena. God
was answering our prayers. I found a wonderful work of the Spirit
going on at Lake Avenue. The altar was full of seeking souls.
There was no big preacher there. One night nearly every unsaved
soul in the house got saved. It was a clean sweep for God.
Conviction was mightily upon the people. In two weeks´ time two
hundred souls knelt at the altar, seeking the Lord. The Peniel
boys were underneath, and wonderfully used of God. We then
began to pray for an outpouring of the Spirit for Los Angeles and
the whole of Southern California.

I find the following observations in my diary, written at that time:
"Some Holiness churches (foremost at that time) are going to be
surprised to find God passing them by. He will work in channels
where they will yield to him. They must humble themselves for
Him to come. We are crying, `Pasadena for God!´ The people are
too well satisfied with their own goodness. They have little faith
or interest for the salvation of others. God will humble them by
passing them by. The Spirit is breathing prayer through us for a
mighty, general outpouring. Great things are coming. We are
asking largely, that our joy may be full. God is moving. We are
praying for the churches and their pastors. The Lord will visit
those willing to yield to Him."

And the same is true today of the Pentecostal people. Their
ultimate failure or success for God will be realized just at this
point. We must keep humble and little in our own eyes. Let us
get built up by a sense of our own importance and we are gone.
History repeats itself in this connection. God has always sought
a humble people. He can use no other. Martin Luther, the great
reformer, wrote: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ says
repent, he means that the whole life of believers on earth should
be a constant and perpetual repentance. Repentance and sorrow -
i. e. true repentance - endure as long as a man is displeased with
himself - that is, until he passes from this life into eternity. The
desire of self-justification is the cause of all the distresses of the
heart." There is much need always of heart preparation, in humility
and separation, before God can consistently come. The depth of
any revival will be determined exactly by the spirit of repentance
that obtains. In fact this is the key to every true revival born of God.

-From 'Azusa Street' by Frank Bartleman - one of the greatest
Revival books ever written.

GREAT QUOTES from DAVID WILKERSON

GREAT QUOTES from DAVID WILKERSON

"Drugs, what a devil-inspired poison! It´s death on the installment plan."
- David Wilkerson, The Cross and the Switchblade

"After much prayer, careful study and reliance on the Holy Spirit,
I have concluded this about Christ´s intercession for us. Jesus
died on the cross to purchase peace with God for me - and He
is in heaven now to maintain that peace, for me and in me."
- David Wilkerson

"As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable
tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the
Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises."
-David Wilkerson

When Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me," He meant,
"You will go down the same path to death." A cross experience is
when you think God has turned a deaf ear to your cry for righteous-
ness and holiness. For a season your prayers go unanswered..."
-David Wilkerson

"GOD USES PEOPLE TO PERFORM HIS WORK... He uses
burdened broken-hearted weeping men and women."
~David Wilkerson

A NEW WORK!!

NOTE:  Welcome to 2014, my friends!  Every blessing in Christ
for the new year. - Andrew Strom.

NEW STRENGTH
by David Wilkerson

Ask anyone who has been called by God to step out into some
new work of the Kingdom and that person will tell you that Satan
has come at him in a rage, hurling one affliction after another.

So it was in the life of Christ. As soon as Jesus had been baptized,
with the dove appearing and the voice from heaven declaring Him
the Lamb of God, Satan went to work. He knew he had only forty
days and nights to try to devour Jesus and stop His ministry (see
Matthew 4).

No sooner did Jesus declare Peter a rock of faith than Satan moved
in to sift the disciple, driving him to unbelief and betrayal (see Luke
22:21). Satan knew he had to act quickly in Peter´s life, before
Jesus´ words about the disciple could come to pass-but the
temptation ultimately failed!

I know what this kind of hellish attack is all about because it
happened to me when God gave me a fresh call to ministry! After
spending much time in prayer, I sensed God´s call to expand my
ministry by speaking to pastors around the world. (I was not
leaving the ministry of Times Square Church, or the ministry of
these written messages. I was only adding this occasional aspect
of ministry, by the direction of the Holy Spirit.)

I was planning to speak to gatherings of pastors in France, Romania,
Poland and the Balkans. No sooner had I scheduled this trip than
Satan moved in. Up to that point I had been at the peak of health
but suddenly I was struck down physically. Within a matter of hours
I became so weak I could hardly walk. I felt sharp, agonizing internal
pains and soon blotches appeared on my stomach.

A doctor friend told me I had shingles, a disease that comes from
the remains of childhood chickenpox. The devil seemed to be
laughing, saying, "So you´re taking on this new ministry, are you?
You won´t if I can help it!"

Yet, within weeks of my trip, all the sores disappeared. The Lord
raised me up and gave me new strength. It all was warfare from
hell! It has always been this way throughout my years in ministry.
Every new acceptance of a call from the Lord has been followed
by demonic attacks.

-Source-

http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/25989

© 2012 World Challenge. All rights reserved. PO Box 260, Lindale,
TX 75771-0260, (903) 963-8626.

PROOF of THE FACT

PROOF of THE FACT
by David Wilkerson

"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come"
(Matthew 24:14).

Many in the church today try to determine the nearness of Christ´s
return by reading the signs of the times. We see such signs in
specific events; for example, the return of the Jews to Israel. Yet
one of the clearest statements Jesus makes about His second
coming is contained in the verse above. The end will come only
after the gospel has been preached to all nations-as a testimony.

The word that Jesus uses for "witness" in this verse is the same
Greek word used for "testimony." It means, literally, "proof of the
fact." Christ is speaking here of not just preaching the gospel,
but presenting it as a testimony. In short, He says the gospel we
preach is effective only if it is backed up by a life that testifies to
its reality.

You would think that in America, a nation filled with thousands
of evangelical churches, there would be a strong gospel witness.
But many churches have compromised the true gospel of Christ.
The fact is, even with all the evangelical preaching in many of
these churches, there is very little testimony of Christ´s lordship
in the people´s lives to back it up. They are not a true witness
to the city or the nation.

Of course, there are exceptions. I think of a Baptist pastor who at
one time planned to build a huge new building. His congregation
was growing rapidly and he had begun studying the church-growth
movement. But then his wife was stirred to pray and seek the Lord,
and soon the pastor was doing the same. He quickly gave up his
dream of huge numbers and began to be a testimony of what he preached.

For a recent sermon, the pastor set up a big screen at the front
of the church. He told his congregation, "God´s Spirit has been
speaking to me about the sins of this church. And today we´re
going to see them in front of our very eyes!"

The pastor then flashed sin after sin on the screen-fornication,
adultery, alcoholism, drug abuse, pornography. Then he began
his sermon: "We´re not about to start building a big church right
now. We´ve got to get Christ´s living tabernacle straightened out
before we can do anything else. We have to live this gospel first!"
Today the Spirit of God is moving mightily in that church. People
are flocking to the Lord, getting their lives straight-because
they are hearing a gospel with a testimony behind it!

-Source-

http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/26074

© 2012 World Challenge. All rights reserved. PO Box 260, Lindale,
TX 75771-0260, (903) 963-8626

GREAT QUOTES from DAVID WILKERSON

GREAT QUOTES from DAVID WILKERSON

"I preached to gangs on the streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and
the Bronx - and miracles began to happen."
-David Wilkerson

"Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do."
-David Wilkerson

"How quickly we forget God's great deliverances in our lives. How
easily we take for granted the miracles he performed in our past."
-David Wilkerson

"Likewise today, some Christians are content to merely exist until
they die. They don't want to risk anything, to believe God, to grow
or mature. They refuse to believe his Word, and have become
hardened in their unbelief. Now they're living just to die."
-David Wilkerson

"Many of those who once were so passionately in love with Christ
now run about pursuing their own interests. They're burdened down
with stress and problems, chasing after riches and the things of this world."
-David Wilkerson

THE GOSPEL of ACCOMODATION

THE GOSPEL of ACCOMMODATION
by David Wilkerson

Accommodate means to adapt, to make suitable and acceptable,
to make convenient. A gospel of accommodation is creeping into
the United States. It's an American cultural invention to appease
the lifestyle of luxury and pleasure. Primarily a Caucasian, suburban
gospel, it's also in our major cities and is sweeping the nation,
influencing ministers of every denomination, and giving birth to
mega-churches with thousands who come to hear a non-confronting
message. It's an adaptable gospel that is spoon-fed through
humorous skits, drama, and short, nonabrasive sermonettes on
how to cope-called a seeker-friendly or sinner-friendly gospel.

To begin with, those terms are unscriptural. The gospel of Jesus
Christ has always been confronting-there is no such thing as a
friendly gospel but a friendly grace.

This new gospel is being propagated by bright, young, talented
ministers. They have come upon a formula which states you can
go into any town or city; and if you have the right formula, within
a short time you can raise a megachurch.

If you are a young man and have certain skills, you find those
skills and a part of the city that would best suit you. You move
into that area, poll it, and find out what the non-churchgoers want:

Then you go to your computer and design a gospel that will not
confront but will shoot out the desires and the needs of the people.
After you have gathered a handful of people, you keep interviewing
them to find out what they want; then you design your message
to help people cope with their needs. The program you design is
intended to make the church comfortable and friendly for all sinners
who wish to attend.

This gospel is fast becoming the most prosperous and flourishing
of all religious movements. Thousands attend these churches. The
pastor is the CEO, and it becomes a business. They make no
bones about it: They are following Madison Avenue tactics and
can make a success of it. Their formula for quick church growth
is cleverly packaged and is being sold especially to young ministers-
those who want to be a part of the big boys and what's happening
on a fast track. They want it to happen quickly.

Paul's Warning

Paul warned of the coming of another gospel and another Jesus
(2 Corinthians 11:4). He warned the church that it's really not
another gospel but a perversion of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
If you hear any other gospel, he said, let that preacher be accursed.
In other words, no matter how pleasant, how pious, or how sincere,
if the message is not the death of sin through the cross of Jesus
Christ, let it be accursed.

I tremble when I read in the Scriptures that in the last days Satan
is going to come right into the church posing as an angel of light.
He's going to take ministers who, at one time, had the touch of
God, and he's going to transform them into angels of light to
become his tool of deception. That's frightening. It causes me
to fall on my face before God for such false, deceitful workers
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. No marvel,
for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore,
it's no great thing if ministers also are transformed as the ministers
of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works..."

-Source-

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199901/078_accommodation.cfm

INCREDIBLE CHRISTIAN!

INCREDIBLE CHRISTIAN!
by A.W. Tozer

The cross stands in bold opposition to the natural man. Its philosophy
runs contrary to the processes of the unregenerate mind, so that
Paul could say bluntly that the preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness. To try to find a common ground between
the message of the cross and man's fallen reason is to try the
impossible, and if persisted in must result in an impaired reason,
a meaningless cross and a powerless Christianity.

But let us bring the whole matter down from the uplands of theory
and simply observe the true Christian as he puts into practice the
teachings of Christ and His apostles. Note the contradictions:

The Christian believes that in Christ he has died, yet he is more
alive than before and he fully expects to live forever. He walks on
earth while seated in heaven and though born on earth he finds
that after his conversion he is not at home here. Like the nighthawk,
which in the air is the essence of grace and beauty but on the
ground is awkward and ugly, so the Christian appears at his best
in the heavenly places but does not fit well into the ways of the
very society into which he was born.

The Christian soon learns that if he would be victorious as a son
of heaven among men on earth he must not follow the common
pattern of mankind, but rather the contrary. That he may be safe
he puts himself in jeopardy; he loses his life to save it and is in
danger of losing it if he attempts to preserve it. He goes down to
get up. If he refuses to go down he is already down, but when he
starts down he is on his way up.

He is strongest when he is weakest and weakest when he is
strong. Though poor he has the power to make others rich, but
when he becomes rich his ability to enrich others vanishes. He
has most after he has given most away and has least when he
possesses most.

He may be and often is highest when he feels lowest and most
sinless when he is most conscious of sin. He is wisest when he
knows that he knows not and knows least when he has acquired
the greatest amount of knowledge. He sometimes does most by
doing nothing and goes furthest when standing still. In heaviness
he manages to rejoice and keeps his heart glad even in sorrow.

The paradoxical character of the Christian is revealed constantly.
For instance, he believes that he is saved now, nevertheless he
expects to be saved later and looks forward joyfully to future
salvation. He fears God but is not afraid of Him. In God's presence
he feels overwhelmed and undone, yet there is nowhere he would
rather be than in that presence. He knows that he has been
cleansed from his sin, yet he is painfully conscious that in his
flesh dwells no good thing.

He loves supremely One whom he has never seen, and though
himself poor and lowly he talks familiarly with One who is King of
all kings and Lord of all lords, and is aware of no incongruity in so
doing. He feels that he is in his own right altogether less than
nothing, yet he believes without question that he is the apple of
God's eye and that for him the Eternal Son became flesh and
died on the cross of shame.

The Christian is a citizen of heaven and to that sacred citizenship
he acknowledges first allegiance; yet he may love his earthly
country with that intensity of devotion that caused John Knox to
pray "O God, give me Scotland or I die."

He cheerfully expects before long to enter that bright world above,
but he is in no hurry to leave this world and is quite willing to await
the summons of his Heavenly Father. And he is unable to under-
stand why the critical unbeliever should condemn him for this; it
all seems so natural and right in the circumstances that he sees
nothing inconsistent about it.

The cross-carrying Christian, furthermore, is both a confirmed
pessimist and an optimist the like of which is to be found nowhere
else on earth.

When he looks at the cross he is a pessimist, for he knows that
the same judgment that fell on the Lord of glory condemns in that
one act all nature and all the world of men. He rejects every human
hope out of Christ because he knows that man's noblest effort is
only dust building on dust.

Yet he is calmly, restfully optimistic. If the cross condemns the
world the resurrection of Christ guarantees the ultimate triumph
of good throughout the universe. Through Christ all will be well
at last and the Christian waits the consummation. Incredible Christian!

GOD RAISED up A MAN

GOD RAISED up A MAN
by David Wilkerson

In Nehemiah´s day, the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins, the city
a literal pile of stones. And the church was totally backslidden,
with no witness left. The wicked powers surrounding Israel
persecuted them severely, mocking every work they tried to undertake.

How did God respond in such a time of ruin? Did He send a well-
trained army to help them? Did He send a palace guard to smite
their prominent enemies? No, God raised up a man-Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was a man with God´s burden on his heart. He spent
his time praying, fasting and mourning, because he was broken
over Israel´s condition. He also continually dug into God´s Word,
grasping prophecy and moving in the Spirit.

Although Nehemiah served as cupbearer to the king of Persia,
he remained separate from the wickedness surrounding him. In
the midst of all the sensuality, immorality and godlessness
taking place in Israel, he maintained a holy walk with the Lord.
And, in turn, everyone who heard him preach was purified in soul.

Soon a revival of holiness swept the land. "The priests and the
Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the
gates, and the wall" (Nehemiah 12:30). The house of God also
was purged, with everything of flesh cast out. Nehemiah sent
workers into the temple, telling them, "I want every piece of
filth out of here. Don't leave anything that has to do with
idolatry or sensuality" (see Nehemiah 13:8-9).

Beloved, this is God´s concept of revival! It is all about sweeping
out every chamber in your heart that´s unclean and unsanctified.
He wants no dark places left.

Where did Nehemiah get such spiritual authority, to cause
compromisers to tremble, and to bring back godly fear to the
temple? The king did not give it to him. No church bishop gave
it to him. He didn´t learn it from a Bible school.

No, Nehemiah got his authority on his knees-weeping, broken,
wanting to know God´s heart. And because he was a man of
prayer, he was able to confess the sins of a whole nation: "That
thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before
thee now, day and night . . . and confess the sins of the children
of Israel . . . both I and my father´s house have sinned. We have
dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the
commandments" (Nehemiah 1:6-7).

-Source-

http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/26169

© 2012 World Challenge. All rights reserved. PO Box 260, Lindale,
TX 75771-0260, (903) 963-8626.

THE PURGING of THE CHURCH

 
THE PURGING of THE CHURCH
by David Wilkerson

Who is the man or woman of God who has power? Is it the one
who can heal the sick and raise the dead? Is it the one who can
best talk in tongues and prophesy? Is it the one who draws the
most people and builds the greatest church? No! The one with the
power - is the one with the purity! "... the righteous are bold as a
lion.. " (Proverbs 28:1 KJV)

The prophet Malachi prophesied of a supernatural purge coming
to God's house.

"... the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple...
but who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand
when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's
soap. And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He
shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."
(Malachi 3:1-3 KJV)

This is a dual prophecy. He speaks of Christ's first coming, and
also of His second! He will come again suddenly, as a thief in
the night. But first, He will purify His Church.

We are not ready for the coming of Christ! Is this the Church
triumphant? Covetous. divorcing, depressed, worldly-minded,
grasping for materialism and success, competitive, lukewarm,
adulterous, rich and increased with goods, unaware of spiritual
blindness and poverty, pleasure-loving, recreation-minded,
consumed with sports, politics, and power - is this the Church
Jesus is coming for? Simply coping, filled with fear and anxiety,
satisfied only to have good health and happiness?

My Bible says He is coming back for an overcoming Church! A
Church without spot or wrinkle! A people whose affections are
on things above! A people with clean hands and pure hearts. A
people who are looking for His coming! A people with a "new
Jerusalem state of mind."

The question is no longer, "What can my faith get me? What
miracle will He perform for me?" The question now is - "How shall
I stand before Him? How shall I make it at the Judgment?" " . . .
who shall stand when He appeareth?" (Malachi 3:2 KJV)

The question is no longer, "How do I feel - how do I get happiness?
How do I get the desire of my heart?" The question is - "Can I
withstand that moment when I stand before the Judgment Seat
of Christ? How can I withstand when I've lived so carelessly, so
selfishly, so neglectful of His great salvation?" The central issue
now has nothing to do with this world at all. At issue is - "HAVE
I NEGLECTED CHRIST in THIS MIDNIGHT HOUR?"

The purge is going to begin in the pulpit! " . . . He shall purify the
sons of Levi... " (Malachi 3:3 KJV) God is going to accomplish that
by "turning up the heat." God is going to make things so hot, so
fiery, so intense, God's men will be driven to their knees! This is
the fire of the Holy Ghost! It is the fire of persecution. It is the fire
of tribulation. The fire of unbelievable hardships, ridicule, gossip,
financial problems. He is going to shake everything that can be
shaken! He is going to shake, and scrub, and burn, and purge -
and purify!...

God also promises to bring down the strongholds of the enemy!
He is going to once and for all let the devil and the world know
who has the power!

If God is about to do all that the prophets predicted He would -
WHAT a GLORIOUS FUTURE JUST AHEAD!

o A purged, purified ministry!

o A Church that God is calling back to repentance and holiness.

o A people washed, cleansed - offering praises in true righteousness.

o A revival among our young people! Drug strongholds coming down!
Alcohol and divorce no longer prevalent among God's people.

o The sound of prayer - intercession!

o A people of God who will discern between the holy and the unholy!

o Everywhere, God's people turning again to the Word.

o A tested, tried people, once again devoted to the Person of Jesus Christ!

o His Person being lifted up to draw all men to Him!

o Christ no longer the stranger in our midst, but CROWNED - PRE-EMINENT!

o A Pentecost that truly exalts the name and power of Jesus Christ,
the Lord of all.

-Source-

http://www.tscpulpitseries.org/english/1980s/ts820001.html

(c) World Challenge, P. O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771 USA.

"Revival or Judgment"

GREAT QUOTES - "Revival or Judgment"

"Strange though it may seem, there are distinct similarities between
the ways of God in revival and in judgment... Because of His very
nature, God cannot and will not permit spiritual decline to continue
unchecked. He is ever halting and reversing the trend of the times
by means of revival - or judgment. Where His people are not
prepared for the one, they shut themselves up to the other."
-Arthur Wallis

"A revival of religion is indispensable to avert the judgements of God
from the church...The fact is, Christians are more to blame for not
being revived, than sinners are for not being converted. And if
Christians are not awakened, they may know assuredly that God
will visit them with His judgements. How often God visited the
Jewish church with judgements because they would not repent
and be revived at the call of His prophets."
-Charles Finney

"The man whose little sermon is `repent´ sets himself against his
age, and will for the time being be battered mercilessly by the age
whose moral tone he challenges. There is but one end for such
a man -- `off with his head!´ You had better not try to preach
repentance until you have pledged your head to heaven."
-Joseph Parker

"Revival is war between the Spirit and the Devil" - Dr. J. Edwin Orr

"Christ showing up in an extraordinarily powerful new way, to
significantly overthrow the status quo and establish the claims
of His kingdom afresh"
-Steve Hawthorne

GREAT QUOTES

 
More GREAT QUOTES
-Sermonindex.

"Church is all fun and games until someone gets poked in the "I"."
- unknown

"Most Christians don't hear God's voice because we've already
decided we aren't going to do what He says."
-A.W. Tozer

"A life lived in accordance with the Sermon on the Mount in the
discipleship of Christ. I think it is time to gather people together to
do this..."
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"If I were to go down to Hell I would shout, "Glory! Glory! Unto my
blessed Jesus until I made the bottomless pit ring again, and that
miserable old Satan would say, `Billy, Billy, this is no place for
thee; get thee back.´ Then up to Heaven I would go, shouting,
"Glory, glory, praise the Lord!´"
-Billy Bray

"There is a common worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which
many have, and think they have enough.
"This cheap Christianity . . .
offends nobody,
requires no sacrifice,
costs nothing,
and is worth nothing!"
- J.C Ryle