Brownsville Update
May 19th, 2006 by Carl Thomas.I read a few weeks ago that the new pastor at Brownsville Assembly of God suddenly resigned. We all know that the school leader left during the revival with most of the school. Later the Evangelist, Pastor and Worship leader left.
In Lee Grady’s newsletter, he asks the question, “The Florida church that hosted the Brownsville revival has dwindled to a few hundred people. Did it have to end this way?”
Tough question. Lots of people can point their finger and declare what they perceived to be the shortcoming but who knows if we will really see this side of eternity.
I have seen revival annointing wreck more than one church. So in that regard, Brownsville is not unique. Yet the question remains, what happened to the fire?
There is a congregation local to me that was touched during the mid 90’s outpouring. They lost the fire a long time ago yet still have weekly “revival” meetings. To be honest, its a little wierd.
I wish you had to qualify somehow to use the title “Revival” in a service.
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Well, my dear friend, you indeed stir the pot with your insightful postings! I like how Mr. Grady ended his article: “Next time He does, I pray we will carry the ark the way God intended—and keep our hands off of it.”
It is my firm belief that God is (and has been) preparing those who will “carry the ark” in such a manner that they will be very careful to not touch His glory. He shares his glory with no man, and so it will be in the glorius times ahead.
Yes, revival is dangerous to those who are its instruments. But, the secret lies in rejection, loneliness, isolation, and barreness. If the future instument of revival learns well the lessons of those times, he or she will embrace an insulation that will keep them in the glorious, but dangerous times of revival - a time when the veil between the natural realm and the supernatural realm becomes almost non-existent.
Unless a seed falls in the ground and dies … there is no life. It is an interesting thing about the planting of seed. A hard, cold, steel blade rips apart a beautiful, lush, green field. It digs deep and completely destroys the current ecosystem .. . turning the sod upside down. Then, more hard, cold steel is used to prepare the ground by making it smooth to receive the seed. After the seed is planted, it appears as if nothing is happening(barreness). In fact, weeds may actually spring up before there is any evidence that such seed was indeed planted. However, there is a deep and permanent work happening below the surface, unobservable and undetected to the natural eye.
Interestingly, it may even appear that all the preparation of the field to receive the seed was in vain. But as the seed lies in it’s place of isolation and rejection, an amazing event takes place - resurrection. And, as the new life pushes its way through the barreness, a new season begins as the new life redefines and inhabits the new ecosystem.
How does the instrument of revival prepare for the dangerous times of glory? He or she does so by embracing weakness and succumbing to an eventual death that was made possible by the hands of those who handled the cold, hard blades of steel. After the ripping and the tearing, it is then that weakness is exposed in all of its fullness. Embrace the weakness as a dear friend or a precious brother or sister, and then the river of grace can flow freely!
Those who have been so treated are those who heaven is watching with great interest and anticipation. The “great cloud of witnessess” holds their breath to see if their faith will be completed by those who now walk the earth. Barreness precedes fruitfulness, and death precedes life.
Your friend,
Ruben
[Reply]
I think “Revival” is a bit overrated. I know that sounds almost heretical. I understand there are times where God’s presence is especially present and working.
The problem happens when the “natural” receeding of the awareness of God’s presence takes place. When this happens, people are addicted to the “feelings” and try to re-create it at every gathering. We were not meant to dwell on the mountain all the time. In fact, in the darkness (to steal the analogy of St. John of the Cross’s Dark Night of the Soul) is where our trust and faith is often most developed.
[Reply]
[...] Found something really precious on revivalblog.com: [...]
[...] Eric from The Merge commented on yesterday’s post that he is unmoved by revival. I think that what he means is that he is less than enthused by what is passed off as revival. This is a followup to his comment. [...]
eric - You provoked me to follow up with another post.
http://revivalblog.com/2006/05/24/what-is-revival/
[Reply]
Embrace the weakness as a dear friend or a precious brother or sister, and then the river of grace can flow freely!
This is certainly the key to sustaing revival.
[Reply]
Hey bro,
better put this link http://www.charismanow.com/05-19-06/ in your article… so that people will find the article you write about…
In Christ
Tom
(Who is reading your blog almost daily!)
[Reply]