New Year, New Challenge: Want Revival? Go deeper!

 Ezekiel 47

King James Version

47 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

Luke 5

King James Version

5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

Psalm 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

For most of us in America, we think of revival as a series of meetings where we feel better, get a little closer to God, and go on about our lives. 

But, revival in scripture was an all encompassing and life changing event! 

Whole swathes of society were changed on a personal level in a very short period of time. Sinners became saints. Thieves became honest men. Idolators and adulterers became God fearing family loving people. In seconds, they were all born again and changed.

 Then, he did it again in Kansas and LA in the early 1900's. Again, it effected huge numbers of people and changed their whole world- literally.

But, over time, embers fade and revival was reduced to what we see today. 

My wife and I have been praying for revival. Real, book of Acts and Asuza street revival. For months now, we've asked, we've sought, and we've knocked. We've begged and we've pleaded. 

Last night, as I was praying and listening to scripture, Luke 5 jumped out at me. I could see Jesus on that boat. He looked the big, burly, and experienced fisherman in the eye, and basically said, "If you'll launch out into deep water, I'll give you such a huge catch that it'll nearly sink both your vessels."

From any other man, Simon would've scoffed and said he didn't know what he was talking about. 

But, from this man, Simon felt something different. Though he argued a bit, something in Simon said, "Ok. Why not? We'll give it a shot."

When they reached the deep waters, they dropped their nets and nearly lost their boat! and even though their own net broke, the fish, miraculously didn't leave the area! Their second boat arrived and they had better nets. They caught so many fish that their boats were barely floating under the weight! 

Simon threw himself at the feet Of Jesus and recognized how unworthy he himself was to even be in the presence of God almighty! 

When the vision in my minds eye cleared, I could almost hear the Lord whispering to me:

"If you really want real revival to take hold in your home, street, city, county, state, nation, world, then go deeper in me."

For further explanation (and I don't know all what he said to me entails, just a small portion), he took me to 2 more passages. Ezekiel 47 and Psalms 42.

 "3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles."

Remember "he that believeth on me as the scriptures hath said, out of their belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER (but this spake he of the Holy Ghost...}" (John 7:38)

As these waters begin to flow in our lives, they rise up to our ankles. We enjoy the feeling of the cool waters washing over our dry and parched feet. It cools our aching feet, soothes the sore bones, washes away the muck and the mire we've been standing or walking in.

But it's only ankle deep. It truly doesn't affect the way we walk. The shallow waters lack the power to counteract the muscles in our body that still respond to the commands our brains give about where to go. We still have control- though we feel somewhat better.

 "4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees."

Now, the waters are a bit deeper. It has the power to somewhat touch our prayers. Some intercession can begin. There's a little more force to the flow, but we are still pretty much in control of ourselves. We still choose what we do and where we go.

"Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins."

At this point, the force of the waters has the power to affect how we walk. It's power reaches our baser instincts. It begins to effect our fleshly appetites. It brings some repentance and self control into our lives. We still have control, but we're much more willing to give some of that control over to our master.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

It's at this point that we have a choice.

Do we stay where we are and enjoy the change and living in the cool waters more powerful than we've know current, but still retain some control of our lives?

Or, do we "launch out into the deep?" Do we dive into the river of the Holy Ghost in total abandon? Do we give ourselves over completely to the control of the river? It's here that we experience there true power of the river. It's here that lives are changed. It's here that miracles, signs, and wonders occur. It's here that massive revival breaks out! 

Why? Because we gave God all the control. We let go of our agenda's and pet peeves. We hand every part of our lives over the the master and HE guides our steps. HE guides us to the destination that HE wants us to find. HE works through us and draws them to HIMSELF and the new birth! 

If we will do that, then HE will bring back book of Acts and Asuza street level revivals! 

But, we must give up control. We must give up our own status/reputations. We must give over our rights and die to ourselves- every day. 

If we will do that, then the harvest of souls that he brings in will not be able to be contained! We'll have to search for others to help us to contain and work with the massive harvest he wants to bring in! 

Cause it's not about us, it's about him! It's not about an organization, it's about him. 

It's not about us, it's about the souls he wants to bring into his kingdom!

It's not about who we are, but its's about who he is! 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalms 42:7)

The word for deep here means "an Abyss (as a surging mass of water)..." and comes from  a root word that means "...to make an uproar or agitrate greatly."

Remember the flood?

The land was all in one piece. The waters had been separated from the land and there was one massive continent. When the waters from above combined with the waters down below it was a catastrophic and world changing event! 

Land masses were reshaped and beaten into place. New mountain chains and valleys were formed. The climate was dramatically changed! Nothing was as it was before. Everything was brand new.

The waters of God want to make an uproar and greatly agitate our lives. He wants to flow over, in, and around us and totally change our whole world! He wants to change how we think, act, dress, speak, what we do, where we go.....

But, for that kind of shaking to happen, we have to relinquish all control and allow him to have all control. 

So, WE have to go deep so that HIS deep can call to us. If we stay shallow, we can't hear his call.

Just as whales can communicate with whale song ONLY UNDER WATER, we can only truly hear God's call if we dive into his waters in total and complete surrender. Let him reshape us. Let him remold us. And let his water flow take us wherever HE wants to take us. 

Incidentally, the word for "calleth" here means "to call by name." 

He has a specific job for each and every one of us to do. I can't do your job. You can't do mine. But if we will all surrender to his life giving flow, HE will remake and remold on a massive, earth shaping scale! 

Souls will be saved on a massive scale. Diseases will be healed on a massive scale. People will be delivered from drugs, alcohol, porn, false religions, etc on a massive scale! 

Watch his pattern though. 

Abraham wasn't a great young man ready to rock his world. He was a nearly retired old man who'd never fathered a child. But God started a bloodline through him that led to Calvary and freed the world! 

He chose Israel, not because of how great and mighty they were, but because of how weak, small, and powerless they were.

He didn't go through the religious somebodies of the world to bring in his church. He chose a bunch of poor folk that the elites looked down upon to rock the church age! 

He didn't go through the religious somebodies to begin the Asuza outpourings a hundred years ago. He chose a bunch of nobodies that the somebodies wouldn't give the time of day to. 

His pattern hasn't changed! 

If we will really dive deep into his word and give ourselves wholly and completely to prayer and repentence, he will give yet another amazing and earth shattering revival! We're not somebody. But that means we're qualified in his eyes! 

Won't you join him? Won't you join us?

Wherever you are. Commit to study, prayer, and fasting. 

Dive deep. 

And watch him change the world!