Monday, March 19, 2018

Yet, Even Now


"Yet, Even Now"

There has never been a deeper stir in our heart for revival than we have felt this year. Already it has been a year of divine interruptions. From Wisconsin to Mobile, Alabama to Miami, we have seen God radically transform lives. The Spirit of the Lord has whispered to us over and over “prepare for Him to come into the services and transform lives”. Could it be that we are on the verge of the 3rd Great Awakening to hit America? Karen and I certainly believe so. At the beginning of the year we knew this would be a year like no other. The evidence of this was in the attacks that came from the enemy in 2017. We have learned that the enemy always fights the hardest when he is losing ground.  On Sunday, January 28,, 2018, we were ministering at Saraland First in Mobile, AL. God moved mightily that morning and as we were preparing for the Sunday evening service, we received a text from our Executive Director of Remnant Ministries, Emily Epperson, who had heard the Lord say, “Yet, Even Now!” This stirred our hearts deeply. We immediately began to search God’s word. The Bible says in, 

Joel 2:12, “Yet, even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.”   
That evening we shared the verse to the church. God moved powerfully! We continue to go back each month.
Now, I feel that I must challenge you to declare with everything in you, “Yet, Even NOW!” The Lord spoke to us as we were writing, “Rebuilding the Altar” that he would use the book as a catalyst for many. He also said, “If you build the altar, He will provide the fire, and masses will come watch it burn.” This has been our promise for over a year! We believe that now more than ever the reputation of God is at stake. While we have seen thousands touched by Jesus in a genuine way, I believe that our posture must change towards the Lord. We must return to the altar. This is the hour when men and women must crawl past their insecurities, doubts and fears and boldly approach the throne. God says, that the separation has begun. This separation is not only of the goats and the sheep (Matthew 25:31-46), but also the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). God is drawing the battle lines. He is saying are you with me or against me (Matthew 12:30)? We must be aroused from the slumber of mundane weekend only Christian walks and the celebration of secularism. We must return to intimate encounters with our Savior. God’s Word declares, Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:26).” The Bible declares, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Eph. 5:14)” The Lord is preparing for Himself a bride that will answer the door when He knocks. Song of Songs 5:2 says,  I slept, but my heart was awake, when I heard my lover knocking and calling: "Open to me, my treasure, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." This may sound radical in nature, but Karen and I truly believe that God is declaring to the bride “awaken, purify your heart and prepare for the harvest”. We believe that we are on the verge of a great “Prodigal Awakening”. 

I am reminded of the great Hebrides Revival of 1949-1952. The Hebrides is a small group of islands off the West Coast of Scotland. On one of the islands in the village of Barvas two elderly women named Peggy and Christine Smith would pray day and night in their tiny cottage for the Lord to move mightily. Then the Lord gave them a promise, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground.” Soon a young evangelist by the name of Duncan Campbell came and began to minister. The island began to experience a mighty outpouring. There is one account of a late-night prayer meeting taking place. After a long time of waiting upon the Lord in the service Duncan Campbell called upon a blacksmith, named John, to pray. As the man prayed he reminded the Lord of the promise that he would pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry land. Then the blacksmith said these immortal words, "Oh God, Your honor is at stake, and I now challenge You to fulfill your covenant engagement and do what you have promised to do.” Suddenly the entire house was shaken. The revival burst forth and the islands saw the masses saved. We are living in a day when God is mocked and the passionate for Jesus are dismissed. We truly must have a move of the Spirit.  
His whisper to the bride is, “Yet, even now”.  It as if God is saying while my bride sleeps, my warriors’ sabbatical from the exhaustion of life and my children weep from weariness; I will visit!  He has the power to change the sleepers into reapers, the warriors resting into standing at attention and the children’s weeping into spirit laughter. The challenge is simple, does your life, family, church, city and nation need an awakening? Then will you declare, “Yet, Even Now?”


v  Yet, even now God wants to restore his bride! Hosea 2:14
v  Yet, even now God will restore your broken spirit. Matthew 11:28
v  Yet, even now God will heal the sick. Psalm 103:3-4
v  Yet, even now God will meet you where you last left him. Jeremiah 29:13
v  Yet, even now God will ignite your calling. John 5:25
v  Yet, even now God will remove my spiritual cataracts to see His glory. Col. 2:9
v  Yet, even now God will open your ears to his voice once again. Matt. 11:5
v  Yet, even now God will flood the dry land with his Spirit. Isaiah 43:18-19
v  Yet, even now God will visit your home. 1 Kings 8:13
v  Yet, even now God will disarm the enemy! Col. 2:15
v  Yet, even now God will awaken an army to move sons of thunder. 2 Cor. 6:7
v  Yet, even now God send revival to our land! Joel 2:28

Could it be that God is on the verge of shaking America to its core? I am not speaking of more riots in the streets, natural disasters or political upheaval. My friends, I speak of a Holy Call being released from heaven for us to once again fall to our knees, remove the distractions, turn off the perversion of our 52 inch TV screens, shut off the back lights of our hand held phones and detox our spirits of all that has so easily entrapped each of us to have lost our appetite for a feast called, “Gods Banqueting Table (Psalm 23:5)”.  We must regain our appetite for more of Jesus. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)”

How do we begin? It is simple, really. Yet, even now simply prepare a place to meet with God. Just ask God to visit you where you are at. James 4:8, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Let us no longer leave Jesus as a beggar in the street. Let’s open the door for Him to come in (Revelation 3:20).  The Lord will show up! How do I know, because it is just as a blacksmith cried out during the Hebrides’ Revival, “Oh God, Your honor is at stake…”  Will we answer the door?