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Happy Father’s Day!

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The Brownsville Revival began on Father’s Day, June 18, 1995. The historic spiritual awakening broke out at the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. Led by evangelist Steve Hill, pastor John Kilpatrick, and worship leader Lindell Cooley, the movement lasted for five years. It drew millions of visitors and recorded over 150,000 conversions to Christianity.

That was then this is now. J. Lee Grady, of CBN wrote the following article titled, What Happened to Brownsville’s Fire? stating: “….my heart is still grieved that the church where this marvelous outpouring occurred is now a burned-out shell. The pastor of the church during the revival, John Kilpatrick, resigned in 2003 and told parishioners he planned to remain at the church in an apostolic role. Kilpatrick installed Randy Feldschau as the new pastor, then this year Kilpatrick shocked the congregation by starting a new church in Daphne, Ala., 50 miles west of Pensacola. Feldschau resigned a few months ago and moved to Texas, and Brownsville’s attendance has dipped below 400. One former staff member told me that a large group of Brownsville members now attend a local Southern Baptist church in the city, while many others don’t go anywhere. “People have been leaving for three or four years,” the pastor told me. “Some are not in church at all, including some who were on staff. I don’t know anyone who has not been hurt.”

What is it about human nature that grows accustomed to the other worldly? The supernatural? The Manifest Presence of God? We criticize the Israelites in the wilderness who grumbled at the supernatural provision of manna, or had the audacity, and presumption to challenge Moses’s leadership. (The one who was meeting with God daily – “talking face to face as friends.”) This same human tendency was manifested during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Religious leaders and common folk alike ridiculed, criticized, and condemned the ministry, miracles and teachings of Jesus eventually crucifying Him for telling them the truth: I AM God! Familiarity breeds contempt. Obviously we become too familiar with an unfamiliar God. BUT…? Often we overlook the manifestations of God in the ordinary; taking them for granted just as Israel had done, and is still doing, with God. What am I referring to? The fathers in our lives. Though they have feet of clay, and have often disappointed, they still reflect the goodness of God in many ways. Yet we live in a culture that blames everything on them. As a culture we will do anything that will keep us from taking responsibility for our own actions, and choices. The most privileged people in the entire world are the least grateful for the everyday things they readily, and freely take for granted. As a young teen all I could do was find fault with my parents, especially my father. But as I grew older, and saw my actions and reflection in his, I realized he was doing the best he could. Recently I was humbled to realize any fool can criticize. But it takes a humble person to acknowledge the good things – the God things that flow from some of the most ordinary places and the most ordinary things. And some of the most ordinary are our fathers. I realized that gratitude and honor were intimately connected. Why didn’t I honor my father as a teen (or for that matter as a young adult)? I failed to be grateful for the things he had given me. I failed to acknowledge that every good thing is from above (it sure isn’t from the devil). As I take stock of those things over the years I realize that even the bad things are what made me who I am today. I realize, and I am grateful that my Dad chose me. (In a day when parents murder their unborn children like they are taking out the trash – that’s something I can honor my Dad for). My Dad worked hard to provide me with food, shelter, clothes, education, water to drink, etc. – everyday. He sacrificed his life in order that I might have life. I can honor my Dad for that. My Dad chose to follow Jesus and led my Mom, sister and I in following Jesus too. My Dad loved the Word of God. I love the Word of God. My Dad faithfully served in the church and faithfully served pastors (still does). My Dad gave me a work ethic. I could keep going but I will spare you the obvious. Maybe you didn’t have the example I did but you had someone. There is someone who may have taken the place of that father. You can honor them.

This Fathers’ Day is THE FATHER’S DAY!  Revival comes to the thankful, the hungry, the thirsty, and those who know they are unworthy. May God revive honor in our hearts for the ordinary, mundane, everyday miracles that walk among us everyday. May God revive in us humble gratitude for the extraordinary kindness of God wrapped up in someone quite ordinary – our fathers. Hey and why you are at it. Pay some respect and gratitude to your spiritual fathers who made this way of life possible. We owe them our lives, respect and gratitude. I’m talking about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln just to name a few. And never forget that how you treat those earthly fathers, and spiritual fathers is only a mirror reflection of how you treat your Heavenly Father. Try replacing your criticism with gratitude. Cease to participate with the Prince of the Power of the Air – the Second Heaven. Move beyond the Second Heaven into the Third Heaven and look at things from God’s perspective. Hey, and who knows, maybe this Father’s Day at Bethany Church can be a day we honor our Heavenly Father for visiting us with revival. (Crazy thought)

Cycles of God

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Numbers 1:1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, saying,…

Recently I saw an article entitled: Fasting – What a Blessing! When I was younger I undertook fasting for 40 days and only lasted 30. The next time I was called to fast I went for the full 40 days. Other than the physical weakness, once I surpassed the 2-3 day mark, I was amazed at how His Grace carried me through. I even began to feel better, experiencing clearer thinking. I say all of this to say I am no stranger to fasting and have to admit that when God has called you to it – there is a great grace to make the impossible become possible. It’s quite amazing. But in all my fasting I would be quick to confess that I’ve not been caught up to the Third Heaven with the Apostle Paul, or experienced Throne Room worship with the saints and angels. Actually quite the opposite occurred and I would not have called it a blessing. But thank the Lord for His Grace that has caused me to learn a better approach in what to expect, or what some may call its’ secrets. What are some of those secrets?

Prepare to Enter a Spiritual Wilderness. When I first read books about fasting I was misled to believe it was going to be this glorious mountain top experience. But that was not to be the case. The Bible teaches that God has spiritual cycles that it carries us through (if we are paying attention): Ecclesiastus 3:1-4 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.

Studying the life of the children of Israel from the exodus out of Egypt – through the wilderness – to their emerging victorious to enter the Promised Land – you observe three major cycles of God for His people. The Mountaintop Season or Cycle, the Wilderness or Valley Season or Cycle, and the Season or cycle of Warfare. To choose to enter a fast or even to seek after God will automatically default you to the Season or Cycle of the Valley or Wilderness.

Many of the things you lean on for spiritual props are removed during fasting teaching you to get in touch with your spirit. Prayer warrior, Andrew Murray once remarked: Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal.  Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God. And there it is: fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. It is not to be an emotional high but a walk through the dusty places of your soul in order to get to the wealth and riches of your spirit man. It is a journey of faith – not sight; not emotional highs – but one that can only be taken one day at a time.

Prepare to Listen for His Still, Small Voice. I have learned that through fasting I can count on receiving more revelation from God’s Word. The spiritual wilderness is where the “manna” of His Word falls. Like Israel of old rise early to gather as much as you want and trust and believe God will provide. Position yourself to hear His Spirit unlock the Word of God for you like never before.

Prepare for Offense. Another thing I have observed and experienced is that fasting “kick’s” up the offenses in me. Fasting is a means of humbling yourself not going on some quest to pay penance for your sins (although you can do that). Dt. 8:3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Fasting is a means to humble yourself under what the Spirit causes to surface through others. What do I mean? I have learned that while fasting I need to pay special attention to every negative event in my life (for they will surely come). People will make me angry, offend, irritate, and confound me with all their many sins, weaknesses, self-centeredness, and pride. The painful truth is that their so-called weaknesses are really being used by God to expose my own. I’ve learned to not blame others for my offenses and irritations – but that these are the very things God is seeking to eliminate in me. I have learned to turn those issue into prayers of confession and repentance. I have learned to press into more of His Presence through thanksgiving and worship. These are the weapons that fight my battle.

Whatever season or cycle you find yourself in learn to open the DOOR of Laodicea and listen for His call and knock. He’s longing for any one who will take the time to enter His Narrow DOOR.

Third Heaven Perspectives

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IN 2022 CBN shared an article about the transdimensionality of our universe. It states: Dr. Hugh Ross is an astrophysicist that uses science and scripture to show that God is not constrained by the time and space dimensions that we are. Humans operate within four dimensions of space and time which include length, width, depth, and time. When astrophysicists began studying String theory, they realized there were six additional small space dimensions, totaling 9 space dimensions and one dimension of time. The math on String theory looks promising and would result in 11 space-time dimensions. Dr. Ross explains, “The remarkable advances of research reveal a God who lives and operates in the equivalent of at least 11 dimensions of space and time. They show that God can create space-time dimensions at will and is not limited by any of his created dimensions. Therefore, God is transdimensional.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up to the third heaven. At that time the Jewish rabbis had a belief in three heavens: our atmosphere, outer space, and paradise or Heaven. Years ago I learned a phrase called “Second Heaven Revelation.” The inference was that the enemy operated in the second heaven, whereas God existed in Paradise or the Third Heaven. The challenge was to not see people from the devil’s perspective – but from God’s, Third Heaven perspective.

I recall the first time I heard Dr. Ross speak explaining extra dimensions of time: In a two-dimensional world a triangle cannot be a circle and a circle cannot be a triangle. But add a third dimension to the triangle and the triangle becomes a cone. In a three dimensional world a triangle can be a circle and a circle a triangle. He used this illustration as an example of understanding the Trinity of God. But the same can be applied to our perceptions of ourselves and others. Jesus raises us from the death of a two-dimensional existence – to the life of a multi-dimensional existence. The catch? He wants us to co-partner with Him in lifting others up to His multi-dimensional, level of existence. Not only does He desire our partnership – He longs for His Forever Family to begin seeing others from this perspective. Brad McClendon once said, If you are going to the Bible looking for flaws – How can you see Jesus? True discernment is looking for Jesus. See behind the prison bars. The Bible says Jesus is our Mirror. The accuser wants your focus on yourself and others performance – not the Mirror of Jesus.

Todays Challenge? Rise to God’s perspective and ask to see people as He sees them.